Need Help removing the Factory UCA's from the spindle

Aloha,
So I'm almost through with installing my lift this weekend, but am stuck on how to remove the factory uniball bolt from the spindle. I got the castle nut off, but can't detach the uca from the spindle. I thought after dealing with the 12" bolts that Toyota installed the toughest way possible on the UCS's I was on the down hill slope, then stuck on this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

just whack the spindle with a hammer and it will pop right off

 

Either a big hammer or a ball joint separator.

 

Cool I'll go try that now thanks

 

Get two small sledge hammers. Hold one against one side of the spindle and hit the opposite side pretty hard with the smaller of the two or the other. Then alternate with hitting them at the same time.

Ya know... right where the ball joint goes through the tapered hole of the spindle. This always seems to work for me with all ball tapered ball joints.

 

I can smack mine 2 times (on the flat spot of the spindle where the ball joint passes through it) with a five pound sledge and it will pop right loose. Leave the castle nut threaded on the very end of the ball joint so it doesn't come flying off.

 

Sweet it worked like a charm, appreate it guys.
I love this forum!!!

 

Took long enough. We thought you were going to the Hospital.

 

Just some FYI, It won't go flying if you loosen the UCA to frame bolt first. The energy inside the bushings under a load is what whips the UCA up.

 

when in doubt, smack with sledgehammer?

noted for when I get aroud to this.

 

Yeah those f'n 12" bolts were rediculous to get off.
Now just waiting on the USPS to deliver my TC UCA's so I can get back on the road.
Appreciate all the help guys..

 

I am aware of that, but if I was removing the UCAs I would loosen it from the ball joint first so it wouldn't be under any pressure trying to get the big bolt out.

 

I meant to loosen the UCA to frame bolt, not remove it, in order to take the pressure off of the bushings so that the UCA doesn't come flying up when the BJ is undone from the spindle. After BJ is removed from the spindle, then you can remove the UCA to frome bolt. Order of operations my friend.