Difficulty of separating UCA ball joint from spindle? Tips?

[geofox784]

I'll be installing a new lift in a few weeks. I'll be doing it at home next to my neighbors unit and don't want to tick him off by hitting the spindle for an hour with a hammer to get the ball joint to pop out of the spindle. How difficult is it usually to get the ball joint to pop out of the spindle? Anyone ever use a special tool to do it?

I just helped a friend install a lift on his chevy and I had to hit the spindle with a hammer for an hour before it finally popped out.

 

[rtinniste]

I'll be installing a new lift in a few weeks. I'll be doing it at home next to my neighbors unit and don't want to tick him off by hitting the spindle for an hour with a hammer to get the ball joint to pop out of the spindle. How difficult is it usually to get the ball joint to pop out of the spindle? Anyone ever use a special tool to do it?

I just helped a friend install a lift on his chevy and I had to hit the spindle with a hammer for an hour before it finally popped out.

Ball pean smack around different spots also helps to drool the suspension out and back the nut off a couple turns. But there is a ball joint separator tool autozone rents. Doubt the neighbors will get ticked I can usually get the ball joint to pop within 5 minutes at worst even on my rusty shit box Jeep xj when I did the ball joints on that

 

[Jesse1983]

it's not that bad but depends on the age of the vehicle and the conditions in which it's driven and been exposed to.

 

[boyguan]

dont use a pickle fork.

use this

https://www.amazon.com/OTC-6297-Bal...56&s=gateway&sprefix=otc+ball,aps,183&sr=8-17

put a tad of pressure on it and then hit the spindle with a hammer. it will pop super easy

 

[Bayou_Pro]

Use the correct tool. Oreilly's has a ball joint separator in their loan a tools.

 

[geofox784]

dont use a pickle fork.

use this

https://www.amazon.com/OTC-6297-Bal...56&s=gateway&sprefix=otc+ball,aps,183&sr=8-17

put a tad of pressure on it and then hit the spindle with a hammer. it will pop super easy

Thank I think I will try this method.

 

[Antman]

Thank I think I will try this method.

You have to use a hammer with some ass behind it like a short 5lb sledge. It’ll pop easy.

 

[Jetboy]

You have to use a hammer with some ass behind it like a short 5lb sledge. It’ll pop easy.

This.

Skip the pickle fork or ball joint separator tool. They all suck. I have them in my tool box. I haven't used one in years. You should use two hammers. One on the back side, then hit the front side with a mid size hammer. I prefer to use a 2.5lb sledge on the back - my bigger sledge has a 3' handle - so not very convenient... But any other hammer or similarly heavy solid piece of metal works. I've done it with a pair of framing hammers. Easy peasy. And you won't ruin your ball joint or the boot in the process!