Urgent Help!

[SanitysBane]

ok im trying to replace my lower balljoint, i've got the sway bar off of the LCA, and the castle nut on the balljoint loosend off enough so that you can see a gap in there, how do i get the spindle and LCA to seperate? and i can't go and get a pickle fork either.

[grnddwn]

Keep the nut on the ball joint this will keep it from attacking you. Put a floor jack just under the controlarm. Get a real big hammer, and give the spindle a good shot right on the side where the ball joint stud passes through it. Don't be afraid to hit it.

[SanitysBane]

k thanks, and crap, dad took the big a$$ hammer...

[Tx Firefighter]

To clarify what he said a litte bit.

Loosen the nut up a bunch, but keep it threaded onto the ball joint stud. Now, put the floor jack under the lower arm, but like an inch below it, not touching.

That way, the coil spring will still have tension on the lower ball joint. Now, turn the spindle either left or right to get the best angle of attack.

Take a serious hammer and give the spindle a damn serious whack. Don't be gentle.

You're going to hit the spindle on the part right where the ball joint stud goes through it. Hit it 90 degrees to the stud, don't hit the stud.

Hit it quite strongly until it "pops". You'll know, because it will jolt slightly and the nut will now be tight because the spindle will be against it and the balljoint loose.

Now, jack the jack up to relieve the spring tension and unscrew the nut off.

[SanitysBane]

THANKS A TON FOR THE INFORMATION!!
i got it, yeah i figured that putting the jack under the A-arm wouldn't help any, i had to beat the ever living crap out of that thing, and then it "poped" but it was still a way down, so i had to wack the crap out of it again, then after lowernig the A-arm about 10 times and wondering why it wouldn't let the spring go i realised i still had the shock atached, so long story short, its done, old ball joint pressed out, just got to press the new one in and put it all back together. i also need to change the brake line as well.

[grnddwn]

I didn't put the just the jack right under it. Put it below it to catch the control arm in case the ball joint breaks and the arm slams into the floor or your toe. I seen it happen the shock of the spindle slamming against the nut can tear the hole thing apart if the joint is really warn. Don't hit your fender!

[SanitysBane]

eh another hit on the body wup-de-do truck is trashed anyways