Looking for Large Ball Joint Separator

[def88]

I recently purchased an OTC Ball Joint Separator Set, but come to find out the Ball Joint Separator won't open wide enough. The OTC Ball Joint Separator only opens about 2 in, I need something closer to 3 in.
Normally I would just use the pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the spindle, but I want to reuse the ball joints and seals.
Checking around, it appears all of the Ball Joint Separator's open around 2 in. The Ball joint is from a Fox Body Mustang, which I would think would be more common, but it apparently not.

 

[Professur]

Have you tried just giving the steering knuckle a hard whack with a BFH? Works wonders.

 

[def88]

Good Idea, but the control arms and spindles were removed from the car still connected together. I could try putting in a vise, but may end up damaging the control arms.

 

[u118224]

I take it you don't have a ball joint C Press?

 

[def88]

I take it you don't have a ball joint C Press?

Yes I have that so I can remove the Ball Joint from the control arm, but I'm not sure it would work correctly to separate the Ball Joint from the spindle.

 

[jerseykat1]

Have you tried just giving the steering knuckle a hard whack with a BFH? Works wonders.

i don't own a ball joint separator. I do own a hammer and a very accurate swing. Smack that knuckle with a hammer and it will separate. I have successfully separated f250, e250, and many other big truck ball joints with a hammer in no time.. If your swing is not very accurate i suggest you put the nut on the ball joint so you dont damage the threads with the hammer.

 

[jerseykat1]

thats how its done!

 

[def88]

I ended up using a Tie Rod Remover I already had to separate the Spindle from the control arm.

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Outer-Tie-Rod-Remover/dp/B0002SRGTI/ref=sr_1_41?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1449958544&sr=1-41&keywords=otc+puller

Although its not really designed to handle ball joints, I used a C clamp to hold it together, so it wouldn't spread apart while I screwed it down, and it pulled them apart in just a few min.