Best tool to release balljoint stud from control arm

[90zcar]

The few ball joints I have done I have been able to break loose with a hammer and also have had luck with the cheap harbor freight ball joint separator.
My buddy dropped of his sisters 2002 mercury sable and I couldn't get the threaded stud separated from the lower control arm for the life of me. I had the HF separator on it tightening it and whacking the side of the arm with a hammer and ended up breaking the separator tool.

This is the one I had and broke


Anyways I ended up putting it back together. Probably gonna attempt it again this weekend. Only thing I thought of is removing the control arm with the knuckle attached and press it out on the shop press

Anyone have any better tool ideas for this?



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[1982fxr]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

With the price of cheap control arms I would try to convince them to buy the whole thing. Was very glad when the board advised me to go that route...

 

[1982fxr]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Misunderstood oops

 

[texasprd]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

OTC's ball joint separator (like what you broke, but better), ball-joint fork, air-hammer with ball-joint fork attachment...

 

[md21722]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Large hammer frees the stud from the A arm.

 

[lazer50]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

If your replacing the ball joints rent a ball joint press from advance or auto zone.and invest in a press kit for yourself preferably not harbor freight lol.or just rent one when u do ball joint jobs

 

[mikegt4]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

OTC's ball joint separator (like what you broke, but better), ball-joint fork, air-hammer with ball-joint fork attachment...

^^^this^^^

I have the OTC version and it has worked well for years.
Most HF tools look like products from other sources but mostly are of inferior quality. I rarely buy a HF tool that is under stress or heavy load in use.

 

[JJThrasher]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Hammer and pickle fork.

 

[md21722]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Hammer and pickle fork.

I stopped using pickle forks many years ago. A large hammer on the rounds where the stud goes through releases the tapered stud just fine without tearing up the boot if you're trying to re-use it.

 

[90zcar]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

If your replacing the ball joints rent a ball joint press from advance or auto zone.and invest in a press kit for yourself preferably not harbor freight lol.or just rent one when u do ball joint jobs

I have a ball joint press. The problem is not pressing the ball joint out of the knuckle. It's getting the threaded stud to ur of the lower control arm.

I'll have to see if I can get the otc local without ordering online.


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[texasprd]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

I may have misunderstood what you're trying to do. if you are trying to separate the ball-joint stud from the steering knuckle, then the most of recommendations above apply.

If you are trying to remove the old ball joint from the control arm, then Lazer is correct - your best bet is ball-joint-press kit. OTC makes one that you will probably never break. Astro Pneumatic and others make them as well - don't know about quality on them. Search the forum and you will find tales where the main piece in the cheap kits has bent when tested with a stubborn ball-joint and control arm...

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Big hammer is all I have ever used.

 

[Greg85mcss]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

^this. I broke one of those hf ones the same way & it was a pretty violent fail. Wouldn't risk that again. Be careful with that sable. I've seen the steering knuckle hole get damaged a couple times & the new ball joint is loose.


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[Pipe]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

If I don't care about the boot(usually only when the ball joint is being replaced) my air hammer with pickle fork has never failed.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

I stopped using pickle forks many years ago. A large hammer on the rounds where the stud goes through releases the tapered stud just fine without tearing up the boot if you're trying to re-use it.

As Eric the Car Guy says, use a BHF and "hit what it goes through". Worst case, heat with a propane torch and then hit it.

Pickle forks work, but when it gets jammed, "hit what it goes through".

 

[md21722]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

As Eric the Car Guy says, use a BHF and "hit what it goes through". Worst case, heat with a propane torch and then hit it.

Pickle forks work, but when it gets jammed, "hit what it goes through".

Yeah, and its not just folks in You Tube, all the pro alignment guys I know do the same thing. Yeah you can have a drawer full of specialty tools, but its usually faster with no detriment to just use a 5 pound hammer in the right spot. Some folks beat unmercifully on the wrong spots and tear the control arms or knuckles up. And sometimes you can't get to the rounds very well so you do need different tools.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

On those late 90s up Taurus/Sable lower ball joints, I use a pitman arm puller. It fits on there pretty good & sometimes takes a good bit of torque to pop 'em.
Be careful when pressing in the new joint, its easy to ruin a joint by pressing on the stud.

 

[Stealership]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

I've never had one that didn't release with a sledge hammer.

 

[Skin]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Don't use a hammer if its aluminum or you risk breaking the whole arm.

Hammering is also not too effective when working on the ground. Some time ago I decided to stop messing around and bought the KTC unit. Pricey but not having to go caveman is nice and its even tethered so when it pops the press doesn't fall to the ground. Not sure if I took a picture of it when I unboxed it.

 

[leadfoot415]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

On those late 90s up Taurus/Sable lower ball joints, I use a pitman arm puller. It fits on there pretty good & sometimes takes a good bit of torque to pop 'em.
Be careful when pressing in the new joint, its easy to ruin a joint by pressing on the stud.

This is how it's done!

Take the balljoint nut off, put the simple 2-eared pitman arm puller against the bottom of the stud, crank it down as hard as you can, and smack downward on the lower arm with a big hammer while the puller is under tension and the stud should release from the lower arm.

As for removing the balljoint from the knuckle.. I usually take the knuckle off the car and clamp it in a large vice, remove the snap ring from the balljoint and hammer the hell out of the old balljoint. Then, use a balljoint press to pull the new one in. Voila!

 

[Wamsutta]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

The best tool is the one the factory service manual tells you to use.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Not sure if this helps as there seems to have been a lot of good tried/true suggestions. If you do decide to try using a similar but better quality ball joint separator tool, you can rent the OEM one from Autozone. I rented one recently for $30 and it worked well. I returned it the next day for full refund and ended up buying one from Mobile Distributor Supply for under $20. I just checked and they are currently $27.98 though. Comes in an unnecessarily oversized but very nice case also.

http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/27308-ball-joint-separator-oem.html


Ignore the other tools. This was the pic I posted to the "Show Your New Tool Arrivals" thread.

 

[90zcar]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

This is how it's done!



Take the balljoint nut off, put the simple 2-eared pitman arm puller against the bottom of the stud, crank it down as hard as you can, and smack downward on the lower arm with a big hammer while the puller is under tension and the stud should release from the lower arm.



As for removing the balljoint from the knuckle.. I usually take the knuckle off the car and clamp it in a large vice, remove the snap ring from the balljoint and hammer the hell out of the old balljoint. Then, use a balljoint press to pull the new one in. Voila!

Are you talking about the one that looks like this?



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[Professur]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

When using the tool the OP shows .. don't just force it with the screw. Use the screw to apply pressure, then hit the finger that's pushing on the stud with a hammer. The vibration will pop it with far less pressure than trying to just drive it out. It's a good tool, but doesn't always fit.

As for cracking an aluminium knuckle ... it's taking rocks and debris all day long as you drive. If a wallop with a hammer will destroy it ... I want to know now. I seriously doubt me hitting it with a 2lbs flat faced hammer is more than a rock coming up under the car at 60mph.

 

[bcradio]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

When using the tool the OP shows .. don't just force it with the screw. Use the screw to apply pressure, then hit the finger that's pushing on the stud with a hammer. The vibration will pop it with far less pressure than trying to just drive it out. It's a good tool, but doesn't always fit.

As for cracking an aluminium knuckle ... it's taking rocks and debris all day long as you drive. If a wallop with a hammer will destroy it ... I want to know now. I seriously doubt me hitting it with a 2lbs flat faced hammer is more than a rock coming up under the car at 60mph.

Yikes! How big of rocks are you hitting?

 

[Professur]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

I usually get 4 or 5 fist sized lumps every winter thanks to trucks. Taking one to the windshield really gets the heart rate up. Most stay low and you hear them clanking off the bits and pieces of the undercarriage. I really hate it when they nail the muffler.

 

[90zcar]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm


I had a $20 off coupon for advance so I got these both for pretty cheap. Now I have them both and they are lifetime warranty.


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[Ole Slewfoot]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Teh ball joint press actaully does great. You just might have to cut the excess ball part off first. Portaband takes ~30 seconds.

 

[cagullett1]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

I've tried so many different ways to separate the ball joints on my commuter Civic (including other brands of this), and the HF version is the best one that works/fit. BFH doesn't work because of a hollow control arm, and the other styles never put enough pressure. I ended up with 2 since it seems I keep 1 out on loaner since HF is 40 miles away.

 

[winlinmac]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Skip the OTC one all together and just buy the Gearwrench instead. Half the price and is the same darn thing as the OTC, made in the same factory and has the same specification.

 

[90zcar]

Was busy last weekend so I never got around to it. Gonna tackle it sometime this comming weekend.


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[Kev442]

After reading the one star reviews on the HF one, I found out why HF gets such poor reviews. The one that stood out went "It stripped right out when I put my impact on it!"

A casual reading of the instructions reveals that you put it under pressure by hand tool, then whack the control arm near it a few times. Time to put a 1/4 turn on the tool and whack again. I think the most whack/turns I've ever needed was 5. Works like a charm.

 

[90zcar]

Well just an update. Got the car done today. Had the new ball joint popper on the control arm and was hand tightening it. I beat in the arm and the bottom of the tool that was against the stud. I had no luck whatsoever so I got the grinder out and cut the stud at the boot between the knuckle and control arm.
I then removed the control arm and popped the seized stud out on my shop press. I could tell it was in there just by the pressure on the press that it took and once it released it sounded like a shotgun.


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[chrisnazzy]

Well just an update. Got the car done today. Had the new ball joint popper on the control arm and was hand tightening it. I beat in the arm and the bottom of the tool that was against the stud. I had no luck whatsoever so I got the grinder out and cut the stud at the boot between the knuckle and control arm.
I then removed the control arm and popped the seized stud out on my shop press. I could tell it was in there just by the pressure on the press that it took and once it released it sounded like a shotgun.


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Well congrats on conquering it. Sounds like it was an out of the ordinary, ridiculously stuck ball joint.

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[texasprd]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Skip the OTC one all together and just buy the Gearwrench instead. Half the price and is the same darn thing as the OTC, made in the same factory and has the same specification.

Do you have any proof that it comes from the same factory as OTC?

 

[Sugarfryz]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

The best tool is the one the factory service manual tells you to use.

Come on

 

[mike_dmt]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Come on

I thought the same thing. Glad someone else said it.

As far as HF stuff goes, they usually work for me, no problem.

I'm also one to read up on any repair I have and some of the "tricks" that other guys have already figured out, to save me more headaches.

Are they anywhere close to perfect? Nope.

But, recently, a few mods to the HF ball joint tool saved me huge $$ on a BMW specific tool I needed for a job.

Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Don't ever expect perfection, and you'll never be disappointed.

 

[Schurkey]

Re: Best tool to release ballpoint stud from control arm

Skip the OTC one all together and just buy the Gearwrench instead. Half the price and is the same darn thing as the OTC, made in the same factory and has the same specification.

I think this is likely, if not guaranteed.

Mine is the older, "KD" version, before KD got renamed "Gearwrench". I'm entirely pleased with it, minus the COO. I figured it was a cheap knock-off of the OTC tool...until I bought a fistfull of OTC stuff, and it was all imported ****. Stupid me, I thought that's what the "Stinger" name was for.

OTC has gone downhill. Not just a little. It's actually hard to find anything decent now.



[Edit] I used to use nothing but pickleforks--hammer-struck, and as an air-hammer bit. I haven't used a picklefork since buying the KD (now Gearwrench) set from my local NAPA.

 

[MDK22]

I hit what it goes though. Have to use an actual sledge on big rigs but, it works 99% of the time. When it doesn't it is normally because it has rusted or welded itself in place. Rusted you can soak it with penetrating oil and heat what it goes though. But, when it friction welds just forget it.

 

[anndel]

I've used on separate occasions, the OTC ball joint tool and the pickle fork that attached to an air hammer with huge success.