Upper Ball Joint Removal

[ZandT4R]

I am creating this thread to hopefully help prevent someone from making the mistake I did. While installing the Daystar 2.5/1.5 kit on my 4th Gen I caused some damage removing the ball joint from the spindle using the Auto Zone rented tie rod/pitman arm/ball joint puller. I kept tightening and tightening the puller until the ball joint blew with great force off of the spindle. The puller put so much pressure on the ball joint it crushed the part of the bolt where the cotter pin goes and I could not rethread the castle nut hence I could not re-assemble the spindle to the ball joint. I spent many hours with a grinder and a hand file correcting the problem. :happens:

The correct way I learned later is to first lube the ball joint just above the spindle, just below the ball joint boot. Allow several minutes for the lube to seep in. Snug the ball joint puller and firmly hit the side of the spindle just next to the ball joint. For me (I am a fairly weak 120lb dude) just a few blows and it came right apart. No damage done what so ever.

I really hope this helps someone in the future as I would hate for anyone else to have to go through what I did while installing their lifts. The Daystar directions do say to use the hammer trick, but they really don't provide enough details exactly how to do it, hence my failure to appropriately follow the directions.

Be safe guys and good luck! :cheers:

Thanks

If any one has any pictures feel free to add them to the thread, as I am sure they won't hurt...

 

[CJ3Flyr]

:cheers:

 

[ZandT4R]

^^^^ exactly ^^^^

 

[ZandT4R]

Someone on the other forum also said to not competly remove the castle nut. Just unthread it a few threads so when you hit the spindle with the hammer to remove the ball joint that everything doesnt go flying apart. The nut catches the spindle and then you can gently unthread it the rest of the way. Seems like a logically good idea.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Make sure there's enough threads that you don't strip the nut right off. I'd make sure the nut was still at least half on...
:cheers:

 

[ZandT4R]

^^^agreed^^^