I need to get the steering knuckle off of my 85 F150 4x4 to replace the lower ball joint. Any suggestions or tips for accomplishing this task other than just beating on it with a hammer? I've pulled the spindle and removed the drive shaft, cotter pins, upper and lower ball joint nuts but it doesn't seem to want to budge.

 

I wish I could tell you differently, but beating on it with a hammer is pretty much the only way to do it.

I strongly recommend that you beat on it with the nuts on the studs - otherwise you can mushroom the studs, making them too large to pass through the holes in the I-beam. You'll spend a long time filing them back down if you don't.

I've found that it's easier to loosen the top first. Hit it sideways a few times and it will break free of the adjuster. Then pound on the lower and it will pop free after a few whacks.

 

go buy a $15 dollar balljoint fork at sears, and get a big hammer and pound them apart. took me bout 4 hits with a 3lb sledge on top and bottom and boom.

 

usig the fork is probably a better idea for no more than they cost. less chance of a screw-up that way

 

yeah. mine wouldn't budge on my f-150 without a fork. my f-250's came right out though. I think i might have used a 10lb sledge since the axle was EV at the time.

BTW, on pickle forks, make sure you get one that is DROP FORGED. The other ones will bend into a Y shape, and they don't transfer the force from the hammer as well.