Honda Car Forum

I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the knuckle's
lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the lower
control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time and can
not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball joint.
thanks

Eric

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:55:41 -0600, "Eric" <ewong1@email.mot.com> wrote:

|I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the knuckle's
|lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the lower
|control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time and can
|not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball joint.
|thanks

That is the best way. Hit the bulged part where the tapered ball joint stud
goes through the knuckle. Pop it good with a 2# ballpein hammer.
If you can't get at it that way you will have to use a ball joint "pickle
fork" wedge, This method usually destroys the boot, so plan on replacing the
joint or pick up a spare boot (if available). You can buy a cheap one for $10
most anywhere.
Rex in Fort Worth

If there's an Autozone near your place, go borrow get the balljoint puller
from them. You will have to put a deposit that's equivalent to a new
purchase of the puller but you get a refund when you return it after use.

I tried it with a hammer but I got scared after hitting it pretty hard and
it didn't budge. Balljoint puller worked great!
"Rex B" <NOSPAMrex@REMOVEtxol.net> wrote in message
news:3fd8f612.174756599@news.txol.net...
> On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:55:41 -0600, "Eric" <ewong1@email.mot.com> wrote:
>
> |I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the knuckle's
> |lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the lower
> |control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time and
can
> |not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball joint.
> |thanks
>
> That is the best way. Hit the bulged part where the tapered ball joint
stud
> goes through the knuckle. Pop it good with a 2# ballpein hammer.
> If you can't get at it that way you will have to use a ball joint
"pickle
> fork" wedge, This method usually destroys the boot, so plan on replacing
the
> joint or pick up a spare boot (if available). You can buy a cheap one for
$10
> most anywhere.
> Rex in Fort Worth

I used a heavy duty pulley puller. I saw one at Autozone for $15.

Eric wrote:

> I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the knuckle's
> lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the lower
> control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time and can
> not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball joint.
> thanks
>
> Eric

If you use the Autozone pitman arm puller.......the point needs ground off
or it WILL collapase the ball joint threads.........

http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pi...ljointtool.JPG

To use it effectively, install it, tighten down till is just tightens up,
then another 1/2 to 1 full turn. This will not "pop" the balljoint, but one
swing of the hammer will.

DO NOT use the tool by itself to loosen the balljoint. YOU WILL RUIN the
balljoint.

--
Charles Tague
93 Honda Civic DX HB
1.6L SOHC VTEC 14.85 @ 89 mph,1.98 60 ft.
With ZEX 85 hp ZEX 13.09 @ 103 mph, 1.81 60ft.
86 Pontiac Trans Am
225/50/15 GForce Drag Radials
305 peanut cammed 15.29 @ 88 mph
http://home.cinci.rr.com/mistab0ne/
"Fluffy" <no-spamming-bsavanh@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:TB7Cb.508575$Tr4.1401386@attbi_s03...
> If there's an Autozone near your place, go borrow get the balljoint puller
> from them. You will have to put a deposit that's equivalent to a new
> purchase of the puller but you get a refund when you return it after use.
>
> I tried it with a hammer but I got scared after hitting it pretty hard and
> it didn't budge. Balljoint puller worked great!
> "Rex B" <NOSPAMrex@REMOVEtxol.net> wrote in message
> news:3fd8f612.174756599@news.txol.net...
> > On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:55:41 -0600, "Eric" <ewong1@email.mot.com> wrote:
> >
> > |I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the knuckle's
> > |lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the lower
> > |control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time and
> can
> > |not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball joint.
> > |thanks
> >
> > That is the best way. Hit the bulged part where the tapered ball joint
> stud
> > goes through the knuckle. Pop it good with a 2# ballpein hammer.
> > If you can't get at it that way you will have to use a ball joint
> "pickle
> > fork" wedge, This method usually destroys the boot, so plan on
replacing
> the
> > joint or pick up a spare boot (if available). You can buy a cheap one
for
> $10
> > most anywhere.
> > Rex in Fort Worth
>
>

Looks like the same tool that I used:
http://www.natalis2002.com/Honda%20C...install_22.jpg

I've used it twice with no problem what so ever and it pops the balljoint
out fine. The Honda manual calls for the hang puller which also has a pointy
tip.


"Mista Bone" <MistaB0ne"nospam"@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
news_fCb.13258$Vg3.10884@fe3.columbus.rr.com...
> If you use the Autozone pitman arm puller.......the point needs ground off
> or it WILL collapase the ball joint threads.........
>
> http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pi...ljointtool.JPG
>
> To use it effectively, install it, tighten down till is just tightens up,
> then another 1/2 to 1 full turn. This will not "pop" the balljoint, but
one
> swing of the hammer will.
>
> DO NOT use the tool by itself to loosen the balljoint. YOU WILL RUIN the
> balljoint.
>
> --
> Charles Tague
> 93 Honda Civic DX HB
> 1.6L SOHC VTEC 14.85 @ 89 mph,1.98 60 ft.
> With ZEX 85 hp ZEX 13.09 @ 103 mph, 1.81 60ft.
> 86 Pontiac Trans Am
> 225/50/15 GForce Drag Radials
> 305 peanut cammed 15.29 @ 88 mph
> http://home.cinci.rr.com/mistab0ne/
> "Fluffy" <no-spamming-bsavanh@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> news:TB7Cb.508575$Tr4.1401386@attbi_s03...
> > If there's an Autozone near your place, go borrow get the balljoint
puller
> > from them. You will have to put a deposit that's equivalent to a new
> > purchase of the puller but you get a refund when you return it after
use.
> >
> > I tried it with a hammer but I got scared after hitting it pretty hard
and
> > it didn't budge. Balljoint puller worked great!
> > "Rex B" <NOSPAMrex@REMOVEtxol.net> wrote in message
> > news:3fd8f612.174756599@news.txol.net...
> > > On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:55:41 -0600, "Eric" <ewong1@email.mot.com>
wrote:
> > >
> > > |I am wondering how to seperate the lower control arm from the
knuckle's
> > > |lower ball joint. Most mechanic told me use a hammer ham on the
lower
> > > |control arm right on the ball joint connection. I tried many time
and
> > can
> > > |not seperate. Is there any trick I can seperate the loeer ball
joint.
> > > |thanks
> > >
> > > That is the best way. Hit the bulged part where the tapered ball
joint
> > stud
> > > goes through the knuckle. Pop it good with a 2# ballpein hammer.
> > > If you can't get at it that way you will have to use a ball joint
> > "pickle
> > > fork" wedge, This method usually destroys the boot, so plan on
> replacing
> > the
> > > joint or pick up a spare boot (if available). You can buy a cheap one
> for
> > $10
> > > most anywhere.
> > > Rex in Fort Worth
> >
> >
>
>

"Fluffy" <no-spamming-fluffydaddmy3@yahoo.com> spake unto the masses in
news:LFqCb.525450$Fm2.506570@attbi_s04:

>
> Looks like the same tool that I used:
> http://www.natalis2002.com/Honda%20C...install_22.jpg
>
> I've used it twice with no problem what so ever and it pops the
> balljoint out fine. The Honda manual calls for the hang puller which
> also has a pointy tip.


Great info both of you guys (Mista B0ne and Fluffy), but can't you somehow
disable your autofocus on your cameras? Perhaps by using the spot metering?

Never even thought of using a pitman arm puller.

--
TeGGeR®