Lower ball joints..
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
Thank You!
Great, a blow by blow description! Who could ask for more? This forum is wonderful. I am a member of a few other forums and it's wonderful how everyone pitches in to help one another. There seems to always be at least one or two really knowledgeable guys on them and that helps us not so knowledgeable guys learn. Kudos to your site and double Kudos to you. Have a great weekend! I of course will be spending mine unbolting/bolting, beating, pressing and swearing with a beer or two poured on for good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
how to get axle out without damage
Hi Dave,
Well everything is going to plan, I just need to know how to get the axle out of the splines without damaging them (the axle or the splines). Oh, and what method you use to seperate the ball joints from the knuckle.
I have to replace the upper control arms (that's how the parts came) so I unbolted it from the frame and have the top of the knuckle loose. As I pulled or swung the knuckle around it doesn't look like the axle wants to just fall out of the spindle. It looks like it needs to be coaxed out. I just don't want to mess it up, so what would you suggest me do there? Also is there any harm in pulling out on the axle? Will I mess up any of the CV joints or is there another spline in there I need to make sure I don't come out of?
The next problem I'll have is to get the lower ball joint seperated from the lower control arm. What method do you use there? Is it a pickle fork or a puller? There doesn't seem to be anything there to bite on with a puller and my small pickle fork doesn't seem want to seperate it.
Well everything is going to plan, I just need to know how to get the axle out of the splines without damaging them (the axle or the splines). Oh, and what method you use to seperate the ball joints from the knuckle.
I have to replace the upper control arms (that's how the parts came) so I unbolted it from the frame and have the top of the knuckle loose. As I pulled or swung the knuckle around it doesn't look like the axle wants to just fall out of the spindle. It looks like it needs to be coaxed out. I just don't want to mess it up, so what would you suggest me do there? Also is there any harm in pulling out on the axle? Will I mess up any of the CV joints or is there another spline in there I need to make sure I don't come out of?
The next problem I'll have is to get the lower ball joint seperated from the lower control arm. What method do you use there? Is it a pickle fork or a puller? There doesn't seem to be anything there to bite on with a puller and my small pickle fork doesn't seem want to seperate it.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Dont pull the axle out too far or you can cause problems with the CV joint. To get the axle out of the spline I use a big brass punch and a big hammer. A piece of wood against the axle will work too. It can take quite a bit of beating to get it to move. Just make sure you dont damage the threads on the end of the axle.
If you absolutely cant get the axle out of the splines you could unbolt it at the inner end of the axle, where it goes to the front diff, and pull it out with the knuckle. That will probably be a bit of a pain though.
To seperate the lower ball joint you can use a pickle fork, a puller or quite often it will pop out if you just beat on the side of the knuckle where the ball joint stud goes in. The stud is tapered so usually hitting besides it will pop it loose.
If you absolutely cant get the axle out of the splines you could unbolt it at the inner end of the axle, where it goes to the front diff, and pull it out with the knuckle. That will probably be a bit of a pain though.
To seperate the lower ball joint you can use a pickle fork, a puller or quite often it will pop out if you just beat on the side of the knuckle where the ball joint stud goes in. The stud is tapered so usually hitting besides it will pop it loose.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
ball joints
Dave,
I got it all off, I used a puller to push the axle in to the spline. I hope I didn't mess anything up with the CV joint. I don't think I pulled the CV joint too much. I did tie the axle up to rest on the top of the sway bar, the sway bar link wasn't there then , I had to replace it. Is there any test I should do on the CV joint to make sure I didn't mess it up?
I'm waiting on shocks and a ball joint shield that I messed up with a pickle fork. You' re right it ain't that tough of a job.
I'll be taking pictures of the other side now that I know how to do it. You'll then have to let me know what to do to get them uploaded to the site.
I got it all off, I used a puller to push the axle in to the spline. I hope I didn't mess anything up with the CV joint. I don't think I pulled the CV joint too much. I did tie the axle up to rest on the top of the sway bar, the sway bar link wasn't there then , I had to replace it. Is there any test I should do on the CV joint to make sure I didn't mess it up?
I'm waiting on shocks and a ball joint shield that I messed up with a pickle fork. You' re right it ain't that tough of a job.
I'll be taking pictures of the other side now that I know how to do it. You'll then have to let me know what to do to get them uploaded to the site.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
It's unlikely that you did any damage to the CV joint. Using a puller to push it in does work ok. I would just rotate it back and forth a few times and make sure it feels smooth.
Ball joint shield? Do you mean the little plastic thing with the "teeth" on it that goes over the boot? If so, just throw it out and dont worry about it. Very rarely does anyone ever put that back on.
With new ball joints and the sway bar hooked up again and new shocks I bet it will drive really nice when you're done
Ball joint shield? Do you mean the little plastic thing with the "teeth" on it that goes over the boot? If so, just throw it out and dont worry about it. Very rarely does anyone ever put that back on.
With new ball joints and the sway bar hooked up again and new shocks I bet it will drive really nice when you're done
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
Ball Joints
Hi Dave,
Yeah, I got r dun. Well almost anyway. I had to out of town for the week so I didn't have time to button her all up. I just have to bolt in the upper control arm and get the knuckle and wheel back on. I did take pictures, so I guess I'll have to get some advice on how to post them.
Anyway, thanks so much for all of your help. Getting advice from you certainly saved me many hours and useless frustration!
Thanks Again,
Jack
Yeah, I got r dun. Well almost anyway. I had to out of town for the week so I didn't have time to button her all up. I just have to bolt in the upper control arm and get the knuckle and wheel back on. I did take pictures, so I guess I'll have to get some advice on how to post them.
Anyway, thanks so much for all of your help. Getting advice from you certainly saved me many hours and useless frustration!
Thanks Again,
Jack
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 856
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, Missouri
You guys saved me a lot of time and money. It took me about an hour to do it in my garage. I put it off for months but was glad I got it done on my 1999 Mountaineer AWD.
Thanks to all that contributed.
Bryon
Thanks to all that contributed.
Bryon
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