Ball joint nightmare, any tricks?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 115
Likes: 10
Ball joint nightmare, any tricks?
I've searched the posts for about an hour and can't find an answer to this one. I'm replacing the front differential on my 1998 explorer. In order to remove it one must disarticulate the knuckles to pull the half shafts away from the center section. This requires removing the pinch bolt holding the upper ball joint shaft. i can't get either ball joint to budge after removing the pinch bolt. I have tried pounding the control arm upward, pounding the knuckle downward, prying, crying, etc. Does anyone have a trick for this procedure?
I'm letting it soak overnight in wd40 spray. i'm trying to avoid tearing up the ball joints with a picklefork and trying to avoid having to take the driver's side control arm off to pull the half shaft on that side. Silly me, the front axle has been whining for 70000 miles now, why couldn't i just leave well enough alone?
thanks for any help, dave in va
I'm letting it soak overnight in wd40 spray. i'm trying to avoid tearing up the ball joints with a picklefork and trying to avoid having to take the driver's side control arm off to pull the half shaft on that side. Silly me, the front axle has been whining for 70000 miles now, why couldn't i just leave well enough alone?
thanks for any help, dave in va
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
Separator fork wont help, drive a screwdriver or chisel up into the gap the pinch bolt crushes closed. Open that cap as far as you can, then it will come out fairly easy.
If you haven't done so completely remove the pinch bolt, simply loosening it is not enough. It sounds like you have removed the bolt but thought I'd mention it just in case.
If you haven't done so completely remove the pinch bolt, simply loosening it is not enough. It sounds like you have removed the bolt but thought I'd mention it just in case.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 115
Likes: 10
Well here is what finally worked for me. by turning the spindle to the right position there was just enough room to get an air chisel into the groove of the pinch assembly. forced in a wedge chisel and pounded the upper control arm upwards, finally freeing a corroded ball joint stem. what a pain. thank you for the suggestion replies. simple prying on the groove was ineffective and there was no way to hand-hammer anything into the groove on the back-side of the spindle. glad to be rid of the axle whine i've been listening to for 30 months
