Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
You do know that pickle forks are inteded for separating ball joints, right? That is their intended purpose, and therefore they are the right tool for the job.
Pickle Forks: For Hacks Only?
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
You do know that pickle forks are inteded for separating ball joints, right? That is their intended purpose, and therefore they are the right tool for the job.
crewchief888
Well-known member
some times a puller is the bst tool, sometimes a fork and a hammer is the best tool.
diesel research
Well-known member
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Ok for all the people that are saying it's hack, why? If the knuckle isn't damaged (never have), and if the part is getting replaced (always do), where's the issue?
I'm calling ********, unless somebody has some actual facts to back it up.
Yeah, if somebody uses a pickle fork that's banged up, gouges the hell out of the knuckle, rips the boot in two, and reinstalls the joint, that's hack.
However, that doesn't have a damn thing to do with using a pickle fork, and everything to do with the ***** wielding it. You can't fix stupid.
I'm calling ********, unless somebody has some actual facts to back it up.
Yeah, if somebody uses a pickle fork that's banged up, gouges the hell out of the knuckle, rips the boot in two, and reinstalls the joint, that's hack.
However, that doesn't have a damn thing to do with using a pickle fork, and everything to do with the ***** wielding it. You can't fix stupid.
justanengineer
Well-known member
x2 on that. I prefer to use a puller, but will pull out the pickle forks when I need to, and I do from time to time. If I tear a boot, oops, I spend the $2 and get a new one.
I guess I will go ahead and replace the centerlink, since I hammered on it via the fork to separate it from the pitman arm.
I also guess I will buy that NAPA kit, so I can break the remaining joints on the centerlink without brute force.
I also guess I will buy that NAPA kit, so I can break the remaining joints on the centerlink without brute force.
wafrederick
Well-known member
I was taught to hit the side of the knuckle with a BFH.Takes two to three hits and the tie rod end is off.Same with ball joints and I leave the nut loose when I do this.
Yup, pitman arms and idler arms are about the only time I use my pickle fork.
Sometimes if I get a stubborn ball joint I will wedge it in there and then smack it with the BFH.
I replace several tierods/ball joints 5 or 6 days a week. Guess Im just a hack for using a BFH and pickle fork when necessary.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
Yup, pitman arms and idler arms are about the only time I use my pickle fork.
Sometimes if I get a stubborn ball joint I will wedge it in there and then smack it with the BFH.
I replace several tierods/ball joints 5 or 6 days a week. Guess Im just a hack for using a BFH and pickle fork when necessary.
You work like an animal .
Tony
Some off you guys are overanalyzing the question, there is nothing wrong with using a pickle fork. It's a tool like many, and in the wrong hands it can do more bad than good. If Bull was doing suspension work daily He might want to go a different route but for occasional work, when the need arises I don't see the problem. Geez.. Judging by some of the comments you would think the pickle fork was invented yesterday.. Btw I ordered the napa kit also. It might be a year or two before it gets used, but I just couldn't resist the hype.
i seriously doubt you hurt the center link
when all we could afford as kids was a pickle fork, that's what we used. and sometimes we reused the same tie rods and ball joints, and then we went off roading in vehicles not intended for off highway use, and i don't remember anyone ever breaking anything, doing anything that wouldn't have broke a new part just as easy
now that i'm older and can indulge in selection of good tools i much prefer the presses. but sometimes, you just got to beat the hell out of it
Steve, it's like a 100% chance that kit is from someplace an ocean journey away, right?
i seriously doubt you hurt the center link
when all we could afford as kids was a pickle fork, that's what we used. and sometimes we reused the same tie rods and ball joints, and then we went off roading in vehicles not intended for off highway use, and i don't remember anyone ever breaking anything, doing anything that wouldn't have broke a new part just as easy
I bet you salted your food and used asbestos insulation, too!
Dunno? If it spreads the first time I use it, We can blame BMW....
LawnDart79
Well-known member
i seriously doubt you hurt the center link
...i much prefer the presses. but sometimes, you just got to beat the hell out of it
I agree. I highly doubt you damaged the center link. Unless it'll make you feel better to replace it, I'd re-use the old one.
As far as the last part of the quote, I also agree. Sometimes you just got to beat the hell out of it.
ibedayank
Well-known member
sometimes on old rusted trucks ya need the fork AND the blue tip wrench to get them
to come apart Trucks with kingpins are worse than balljoints tho
to come apart Trucks with kingpins are worse than balljoints tho
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, if it's expensive. Grab the joint and see if there's play. If not, go with it.
I'm sure I'll be told I'm completely wrong, but if you ruin a front end component using a pickle fork, IMHO, you did yourself a major favor, because it was ready to let go on the road.
A pickle fork doesn't magically take a good joint and wear it out. That's how joints go bad...wear. A pickle fork doesn't make a joint loose. They can screw up the boots, and frankly, if the boots are more than a year old, I would replace them as a "just because", anyway.
Greatbear
Well-known member
I use a 'rattler' tool in my air chisel. In most cases, 5 seconds and it pops apart. No damage to any parts.
I have used my 40 year old pickle fork for years .. haven't damaged anything yet .. I have some OTC pullers now, but having that kit would be nice ..
rocklobster
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2011
- Messages
- 184
For Sure!
If the suspension cant take a couple of whacks with a wedge it wont survive how I will drive!
I suspect the guy that the OP is mentioning also thinks it is hack to have dirt under the fingernails and sweat upon his brow.
m_fumich
Well-known member
Using a pickle fork doesn't put any more stress on the suspension pieces that driving the car does. The fork may damage that boot but you can replace the boot.
warmpancakes
Well-known member
Lets see you get a puller on the upper ball joint on a s-series 4x4, Pickle fork is the only way even GM service manual calls for one
Here is the site that I mentioned in my first post. This is what made me ask the question.
http://www.stangerssite.com/tools.html
http://www.stangerssite.com/tools.html
warmpancakes
Well-known member
not once on that site did them mention not using one for ball joints,
There is nothing wrong with using a pickle fork correctly when needed (and I doubt that the owners of the site have much experience based on what I read and the HF recommendations). But, you have to know how to use one.
While I have never used a pickle fork on a tie rod end or pitman arm which can be damaged by banging on the parts, try removing stubborn ball joints on a truck with the OTC set and see how well it works (and yes
, I HAVE the U.S.A. OTC set and several expensive Kent-Moore ball joint separators). I replaced the ball joints on my truck last weekend. Cripe has that set for $60. According to their website, they have 13 left. Better hurry.
http://www.cripedistributing.com/na...ervice-41690-p-7786.html?manufacturers_id=271
After my order they have three left!
On eBay, they are still showing 13.
They should give me a commission. My thread has helped them move about a dozen of these things in the past couple days!
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
On eBay, they are still showing 13.
They should give me a commission. My thread has helped them move about a dozen of these things in the past couple days!
But it was me and hilld's posts.........
I check Cripe at least once a day...there are some items that they only have a few of that I have scored just in time.....that said, don't worry, I'll keep everyone posted on what's new....no need for others to look.....
But it was me and hilld's posts.........
I check Cripe at least once a day...there are some items that they only have a few of that I have scored just in time.....that said, don't worry, I'll keep everyone posted on what's new....no need for others to look.....
This is true, you guys ARE the ones to post that link. My thread was just the catalyst. My bad.
Seanbev24
Well-known member
2 left! I've made it this far without the kit, but thanks to you guys, I couldn't help myself
GDA
Well-known member
+1
Only resort to a air hammer pickle fork attachment when the part is clearly shot and will not be reused.... otherwise I use my OTC set which is the same one as BMW posted.
Once you've used the ones in the kit you will not think of suspension link work as a chore anymore.
bsaint
Well-known member
I use the bfh technique for all ball joints except the one moose mentions on BMWs. There is no way to get anything else in there. And also, if there is no room to swing a hammer, I put a hammer in my air hammer and pop goes the weasel.
SCscoutguy
Well-known member
I feel like a hack now because all of these years working on my Scouts I have only used my set of New Britain pickle forks and they have always worked well for me. I don't think I have ever damaged anything using them other than the bushing which I always replace anyway.
2 left! I've made it this far without the kit, but thanks to you guys, I couldn't help myself
And they are all gone!
countryroad82
Well-known member
Wow I guess I'm just a hack, all I have ever used is a pickle fork, and I thought I was moving up in the world when I "upgraded" to air hammer pickle forks...... Nah!! I haven't messed anything up that I wasn't already planning on replacing.................
ibedayank
Well-known member
airhammer sure helps when getting the rivets on the top ones out to
bobemmerich
Well-known member
I've always used a pickle fork on front ends. The only time I would not use one is on a pitman arm, but only as a precaution. Ball joints, tie rods, drag or centerlinks-NO PROBLLEMS! and I've done a lot of front ends.
ibedayank
Well-known member
IMHO some ""tools"" now made are just to get more money out of your wallet
like this one for example...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Disc...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item415974f3df
thats for the fixed pistin caliper... like mid 90s and older
what happened to the 8inch C clamp that has been used for 40 years or so
like this one for example...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Disc...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item415974f3df
thats for the fixed pistin caliper... like mid 90s and older
what happened to the 8inch C clamp that has been used for 40 years or so