Posted on 05/16/2009 6:47:08 PM PDT by Yak
Are there any Freepers out there that can help me w/a an automotive repair question?
I'm trying to replace my ball joints (upper & lower) in my '94 GMC Sonoma 4x4, and ran into difficulty -- I can't separate it from the steering knuckle! I managed to get the rivets & castle-nut off, but can't get the stud out of the knuckle.
I'm trying to replace a ball joint in my '94 GMC Sonoma 4x4 . . .
I can't use the special ball joint separator tool I borrowed from the auto store b/c the front transaxle is in the way and have no room to fit the tool in.
The pickle-fork just seems to move the upper control arm around, but the stud won't budge from the bottom.
I tried forcing the stud up w/ an improvised jack mechanism, but it's still not budging.
See attached. Any suggestions? Thanks. Mike.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22398807-Help-Ball-Joint-Wont-Budge-for-Replacement-94-GMC-Sonoma-4
“Heat it and then beat the B-Jesus out of it and it may separate.”
What he said.
A zip gun will do it.Ask a front end shop about it.
A. Set it on fire.
B. Collect the insurance money.
C. Buy a Ford.
Spray it down with some PB Blaster (designed to penetrate, whereas WD-40 just lubricates). After a thorough coating go inside and watch TV for a while. Then spray it down again, wait a couple minutes.
Hit the outside with a torch for maybe a minute solid. You won’t hurt anything since it’s a huge chunk of metal and the propane won’t get all that hot.
Then go for the pickle fork. If that combination won’t get them apart, it’s probably beyond your ability at home.
should have bought a mac...
Make sure the vehicle is in neutral and the drive line tension is released.
“Put some tension on the ball joint in the direction that it would separate, and then strike the steering knuckle next to the tapered hole very sharply with a heavy hammer.”
This WILL work.
I can see you have been there before.
This method works great and it works especially great with an air hammer with a shop hammer backup.
Take it to your local GM dealer and get it fixed b4 Obama stops by and shuts the GM dealership down ...
In the replacement part there should be some bolts, install them and then your jackstand approach should work as you let the weight of the vehicle onto it. A few blows to the sides of the spindle where the bolt goes thru, should free it if the jackstand approach is not enough.
It is also a good idea to put the castle nut on to prevent the sudden release from damaging you, or something else. If you've damaged the threads already, just lash a chain loosely around the upper control arm.
A big firecracker?
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