Trouble Removing Bolt From Upper Control Arm With Pics

Hello. New member here. While trying to replace my left front wheel bearing on my 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4cyl 5spd 4x4 ... I could not get the bolt out of the upper control arm. If anyone has experienced this issue I would value your input.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

You need a ball joint separator......they rent them at local autoparts store.

 

You need to have some weight on the ball joint. Thread the nut on a bit but leave it loose, then with a BFH hit the control arm as hard as you can.

 

Thanks for the quick replies...


You need to have some weight on the ball joint. Thread the nut on a bit but leave it loose, then with a BFH hit the control arm as hard as you can.


Where should I hit on the upper control arm?

 

Right around the ball joint stud. Just be careful to not hit anything else.

Side note, Oscar (User_Name01) mentioned the correct method. But the hammer usually works for those types of situations. (lower ball joint, outer tie rod end, etc)

 

Take a BFH and swing upward at the lip of the control arm. Should come out pretty easy, if it doesn't, hit it with some heat, than repeat.

 

Thanks Brett, Is the bolt welded to the upper control arm?, or if not how is it held?

 

Only problem with heat is it may melt the ball joint boot. Kind of risky if you want to reuse it.

 

That's your upper ball joint, which is press fit into the spindle from the bottom. What you're trying to do is seperate the ball joint from the UCA.

 

So, is the balljoint attached the bolt?

 

Yes, the ball joint and the bolt are one and the same.

 

Thanks, that cleared it up. Since i have tried laying on it with a 5lb sledge I think a balljoint separator is needed.

Where do I place the the two jaws of the separator?

 

Soak that thing with some penetrating oil.Grab your largest hammer in your box and smack the upper control arm near where the stud is.X marks the spot.If you have a friend around you can put a bar between the UCA and the arm the ball joint is on.The shock from smacking and the pressure from the prybar will cause it to break free.

 

Thanks for your input.
Will do. If / When it works I will follow up with the results.


To All: Thanks for the asssistance

 

I found that no amount a smacking would dislodge ball joint from the UCA. I resorted to using one of these.



Once I was able to get the three arms to grab, the BJ bolt pushed right out.

 

Wedge a 5' steel bar between the top of the spindle (the little shoulder that sticks out) and the upper control arm. Put some weight on the end of the bar and it should pop free. Thread the nut slightly on to keep it from coming out and possibly straining other parts.

 

I talked to a local mechanic after failing to remove it with a large sledgehammer and he recommended I use a pickle fork...does this sound like a good idea?

 

It will probably ruin the ball joint. Old one would have to be pressed out of the spindle and a new one pressed in.
Grab one of those pullers everyone has posted pics of.

 

Pickle forks are great for removing ball joints. But agreed, will more than likely ruin the ball joint, well, at least the boot.