Ball joint tool

[papdetomaso]

Just replaced the axel on my 90 HB. Spent two hours beating on the ball joint with a pickle fork. Does anyone know a of good tool, the kind you press it off with?...thanks...Pappy

[91lxdreamer]

Hey man, I've always used a pickle fork, and thats what we used in the shop where I worked, thats what always worked best for me, whats the problem with that? Is that not workin?

[BullShifter]

The best way I find is the back the nut all the way down so it's flush with the bolt part, then smack the nut with a hammer. Pickle forks rip boots, NOT GOOD. IMO a puller is better than a fork, but the hammer is the fastest.

[91lxdreamer]

Originally Posted by jackasssi

The best way I find is the back the nut all the way down so it's flush with the bolt part, then smack the nut with a hammer. Pickle forks rip boots, NOT GOOD. IMO a puller is better than a fork, but the hammer is the fastest.

My bad, didnt even think of that, usually when I'm pullin a ball joint, im replacin it, so it doesnt matter if the boot rips...nice call man. Thanks for coverin me

[papdetomaso]

Yes, the pickle fork works, but the job took four times as long and as mentioned above it's hard on ball joint boots. I just wondered if anyone had a specialty tool they used for this job... thanks for the responces...Pappy

[EF You]

the specialty tool is a big ass ball peen hammer. the key is, loosen the nut to the end of the balljoint, then look on the lower control arm, theres a flat knob that kinda pokes out right on the end. hit that spot as hard as you can with the ball peen, and it will come loose. then just take the nut off the rest of the way, and you are set. i wouldnt recommend actually hitting the nut or balljoint itself, because you can mess up the forums.....erm, i mean the threads....yeah

[viridion]

i've never ripped a boot wiht a picklefork, most of the time i use the airhammer tho

if it's really stubborn i use the hammer type with a 3lb hammer.. rap on it once or twice and she pops right off