How are you guys popping a ball joint out of the spindle?

[Mr_Roboto]

I'm trying to pop the ball joints out of my Astro lower A-arms (think B-body parts) and I'm having some issues. I bought a Harbor Freight ball joint removal tool and turned it into a pretzel trying to get the lower stud to pop out of the arm. Should I just jack the rotor up and slap the ball joint with a hammer a bit? Blue wrench? high explosives? Some zen master trick I'm unaware of?

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[xringshooter7]

Last time I did one I used a Fire wrench and 3lb mini sledge...popped right out.

 

[utryd2]

Heat the arm

 

[Stink Star]

Did u remove the snap ring?

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Did u remove the snap ring?

I removed the castle nut, never heard of a snap ring. That would definitively be a first to me.

 

[C.Evans]

I use an air hammer to pop them out.

 

[CrawlinTBSS]

if its gonna wanna pop out nicely then a few good wacks to the arm/pinch holding the balljoint.

may need some heat if its still stuck. then wack it and maybe have another person on a pry bar between the balljoint and arm.

 

[Stink Star]

I removed the castle nut, never heard of a snap ring. That would definitively be a first to me.

OH YOU MEAN SEPARATE THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE KNUCKLE. I THOUGHT YOU MEANT THART YOU WERE ACTUALLY CHANGING THE BALL JOINTS. YEA JUST HIT THE KNUCKLE WITH A HAMMER WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE JOINT, IT WILL POP

 

[C.Evans]

if its gonna wanna pop out nicely then a few good wacks to the arm/pinch holding the balljoint.

may need some heat if its still stuck. then wack it and maybe have another person on a pry bar between the balljoint and arm.