How do you remove ball joints from control arms?
To remove the old ball joints from the control arms, you’ll either need a drill to drill out the rivets as on most older Chevy products and some Ford products, you’ll need a ball joint tool, like for Mopar products. Of course, this generalization only holds for OEM ball joints.
What should I use to replace the bushing on my control arm?
If your control arm ball joint is in bad shape and you are replacing the control arm you can use a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle. If you are reusing the control arm and only replacing the bushing use a tool similar to HAZET 17791 to pop the ball joint out of the spindle without damaging the ball joint rubber boot.
How are the ball joints and control arm bushings different?
The joint is able to pivot a full 360 degrees as your car goes down the road and you turn the wheels left and right. The control arm bushings allow the control arm to pivot up and down as you drive down the road. Cars with MacPherson struts only have lower control arms, so they only have one ball joint instead of two.
How do you replace a control arm assembly?
Once positioned, slowly lower the car onto the jack stand using the floor jack. Do not fully lower the jack and keep it in the extended position. Step 1: Remove the wheel. Using the ratchet and socket, loosen the lug nuts on the wheel. Carefully remove the wheel and keep it aside. Step 2: Separate the ball joint from the hub.
Is there a way to remove balljoint from control arm?
if you leave the ball joint in the knuckle you can beat on the side of the lower control arm and if your lucky it will come out i have done this to get good used ones out before. Edited June 18, 2012 by mikaleda
What kind of tool do I need to remove a ball joint?
A variety of specialized tools may be helpful for removing an old ball joint and installing a replacement part. A variety of different tools and sets can be used to service ball joints. A pickle fork separator purchased individually or as part of a set of forks of different sizes can be used to separate ball joints and tie rods.
What’s the easiest way to separate a ball joint?
The easiest way to separate a ball joint is to hit the knuckle straight on. Hit it like you stole it. And I’m not talking about hitting the ball joint where the threads are at. Hit the metal part where the ball joint goes up through. Ensure you have something to pry it apart as you are doing it only so you can tell when it’s actually separated.
How to remove a ball joint safely Harbor Freight ball?
1. Lubricate the tool to prevent wear and breakage due to friction. 2. Do not use an air impact gun with this tool. A hand wrench or ratchet is more than sufficient for applying the necessary force so as not to damage the tool or potentially create a dangerous situation. 3.