HELP!!!!!Lower Ball Joint Removal on 94 Sonoma 2WD

[Getsum]

I have the brake caliper and arm off. The top and lower ball joints are removed from the arm, I drilled out the top rivets and removed the top ball joint.

The problem is the lower ball joint will not come out of the bottom hole. I wailed on it with a 3 pound sledge for 15 minutes but it didn't move. Is there a secret to removing this? It is about 3 inches across so there's no way a pickle fork/press will fit in there. It apears to be pressed it. The new one has perpendicular ridges on it where it goes through this hole.

Any advice out there? It's up on jackstands and I'm covered in grease scratching my head...and I'm an experienced mechanic!! Just not on these american trucks....

[rlith]

go to advance or autozone and grab a balljoint press from their loan-a-tool program (its free)

[Getsum]

I have the ball joint removed from the arm already, the arm is off the truck. The ball joint is stuck in the lower suspension. I've seen these presses and they appear to be made for removing the ball joint from the arm. Should I take a picture and post it?

Originally Posted by rlith

go to advance or autozone and grab a balljoint press from their loan-a-tool program (its free)

[rlith]

Ahh, I misunderstood.... Use a pickle fork..

[Getsum]

???? The ball joint is 3 inches wide where it goes through. Do they make forks 3 inches wide?

I don't have access to that tool, should I continue to wail on it with the sledge?

Originally Posted by rlith

Ahh, I misunderstood.... Use a pickle fork..

[rlith]

Where the balljoint is going into the base of the knuckle spindle is where its stuck right? You just wedge the fork between the knuckle and the base of the ball joint and whack it...(unless I'm missing something here)

[blazee]

If it is stuck in the control arm, usually a hammer works.... just knock the hell out of it and go in a circular motion around the outside edge of the ball joint. The ball joint is pressed in from the bottom, so you have to hit the top of it to get it out.

If the ball joint stud is stuck in the steering knuckle/spindle/hub (whatever you choose to call it).... a pickle fork should do the job. If it is being real stubborn you can use the pickle fork to apply pressure to it and then tap the stud and it should pop loose.

[Getsum]

Yeah, I figured out an important step, actually my neighbor and I figured it out, brace the bottom of the control arm with a jack. Then use a cutoff blade and cut the ball joint arm in half. Then place a big socket over the top and hit it hard about three times with a three pound sledge hammer. It falls out quite quickly. If you sit there and hit it without supporting the lower control arm, all it does is bounce and absorbs the hammer's blows. A pickle fork and press are absolutely worthless in getting the lower ball joint out of the control arm because they are both not wide enough. I'm sure GMC/Chevy sells some kind of special $400 tool that only dealers have; you don't need it. This is what sucks about working on American vehicles, the engineers make it as difficult as possible for the average person to work on them.

To reinstall the lower ball joint, place a big socket under the joint (to protect the zirc fitting) and jack it up until it sits flush with the control arm; even on all sides. Then hit the top of the control arm with a hammer, evenly on all sides, making sure it seats equally as it goes up into the control arm. Once it is flush, secure it with the washer, nut, and cotter pin.

If anyone has any questions about how to do this job, please e-mail me and I'll help out in any way I can. Once I figured out one side, the other went 3 times faster. I still can't believe this is the first time this has been covered on this site, but it's cool I can possibly use this info to possibly help someone like myself. Thanks to all that wrote and at least tried to help, you put us on the right track. Lee

Originally Posted by blazee

If it is stuck in the control arm, usually a hammer works.... just knock the hell out of it and go in a circular motion around the outside edge of the ball joint. The ball joint is pressed in from the bottom, so you have to hit the top of it to get it out.

If the ball joint stud is stuck in the steering knuckle/spindle/hub (whatever you choose to call it).... a pickle fork should do the job. If it is being real stubborn you can use the pickle fork to apply pressure to it and then tap the stud and it should pop loose.

[GMMerlin]

This thread is closed!
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