Using a pickle fork I have removed the upper and lower ball joints, all except the upper ball joint on the driver's side. No matter how much prying and jostling, it remains attached to the spindle. Any advice or ideas?
Heat will expand the stud making it tighter. Drive the fork in place and smack the spindle where the stud passes through with a hammer. The shock wave will free the ball joint.
He done damaged the ball joints by using the fork anyway. Might as well use the fork now so a lesser blow will free the ball joint. If reusing the ball joint...shock wave and gravity is the best way to save the part.
wipe all grease off with some thinner or acetone, put pickle fork in place, heat the outer pitman arm with a small propane torch, make sure you have a bucket of water wet rags or a fire extinguisher for saftey immediately after heating hold an ice cube carefully on the bolt shaft without touching the pitman arm for about a minute or so, then whack the fork and wa la.......
I hate the fork. I just hit it from both side with 2 2lb hammers. If that doesnt work I use a Map torch then hit it again. The ball joint is no good now.
Always use a hammer on ball joints ,no heat no pickle fork, hit it as hard as you can with a big hammer, one good hit is equal to a hundred little hits
I use a home made press I made from some threaded rod and some coupling nuts. Fits between the upper and lower bj studs.
