Vettesic

Doing front end on my 71. All safety measures in place for coil spring removal. Got all off except for rotor assembly that attaches to upper and lower ball joints. I've tried pickle bar with no budging. Any suggestions at this point would help.

hugie82

You can whack the flat edge were the ball joint slides into the spindle. I usually leave the nut on the ball joint loose and using the spring load on the ball joint to pop it apart. If you have the spring out, use a little heat and beat the **** out of it with a pickle fork. You won't be ruining anything you're not replacing anyway.

62corvette

I know what you are going through. Just did that about 2 weeks ago. I used aft/acetone mix and soaked it for two days. Then used Harbor Freight balljoint separator tool. That worked, but still came apart hard. It went together in December of 1970, and was reluctant to come apart. Good luck.

redvetracr

bigger hammer

ddawson

The pickle may be too long. Plus use a 5 pound sledge.

Try sliding an open end wrench in there to give the fork more thickness.

Hammerhead Fred

Make sure you're using a ball joint separator and not the smaller tie rod end separator. The small fork will hang on the width of the ball joint stud preventing you from driving it in far enough to wedge the rotor joint off of the ball joint stud.

Roadster71

I used a wrench as a spacer under the pickle bar too. Once I did that it only took a couple good hits to break free.

Vettesic

I think fork is small for this job. I'll try to squeeze open end wrench in there tomorrow. Or I'll get larger ball joint toll. Annoying.

Sigforty

I personally like using the OTC tie rod or pitman arm pullers. They work like a press and push in the middle. Look for the 3714A.

Bob K

I'm not a big believer in cheap tools, but the ball joint separator from Harbor Freight works.

I!ve used it a couple of times and it hasn't broke.

Bob K.

mortgageguy

I just did this about three weeks ago. The bottom joint was tough, work on getting the upper to break loose, get the knuckle off, after getting spring out, and then you can work on the lower on your work bench.

Swiftrider08

Totally agree. Tool works great. No beating on anything and they popped right loose. Easy.

Vettesic

Is that a press or fork?

gungatim

trick ive posted before I learned from my BIL who is a GM mech at dealer.

you get an air chisel, put in a flat round bit (grind or make one if you need to). and hammer the side. it will pop right out.

Bob K

It's a little set of jaws that spread apart with a bolt.

Bob K.

Big Block Dave

I feel the same way, and used the same tool for the job. It was probably on the verge of breaking, but it did get the job done.

Vettesic

Ok. Got them all off! With the help of forum members. Got the tool from Harbor Freight as directed. Uppers not to bad. Lowers were real hard. Took within an inch of the tools life but they finally popped. Had to relocate tool several times. No pounding what so ever involved. Forget pickle fork. Use this tool is lots easier. Now to get lower control arm bolts off.

mortgageguy

Now the fun is reversed. The lower control arms are easier to get off than the upper. The upper on the passenger side is tough.