Help! Stuck Lower Ball Joint/CV removal questions as well

I'm replacing my lower ball joints and CV axle and I have everything apart but I cannot get the stud to separate from the control arm...any tips? I've soaked it with pbblaster and hammered away for an hour on both sides of the arm and the stud itself.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

Can you rent a pitman puller from an auto parts store? I’d get one of each sizes.

 

I was thinking of going back tomorrow and getting the pickle fork set, didn't look at pitman pullers though...

 

I rented a set of pitman pullers then forgot to return them so now I own them. They’re pretty handy and I’m glad I have them.
They’ll pop the stud out super easy.

 

Do you know what size will fit the lower ball joint, I'm not sure if my credit limit will allow me to rent one of every size right now considering I just rented $200+ of tools the other day

 

Are you using the 2 heavy hammer method? I've never had it not work.

 

I'm using a mini sledge and hitting both sides then the bottom. i don't have a lift so I can't really swing that hard.

 

This is what I'm looking at, the middle one looks like its adjustable, would that be better than the non adjustable ones?

 

I only swing 1 hammer. I have the heavier one just resting against the back of the joint and put all my power in the lighter of the 2 hammers. I think I use a 4 lbs. for the back one and a 2 lbs. one to really swat it.

 

have you done it before?

Have you tried putting a jack under the knuckle and raising it to help relieve some of the binding?

Make sure you have someone or something holding that knuckle when you do get it to separate.

 

I have the knuckle on a jack stand off to the side, and yes I had a jack under the stud.

 

I’d say second from the right. The far left is sized more for a tie rod ball joint. I’m unfamiliar with the other 2.

 

Gotcha. That’s what I thought when you said you had ‘everything apart’ but wasn’t sure.

 

Picture of how you have this jacked up?

 

Not big enough. One came out easy. The second one was a bitch. Find the biggest hammer you can. I used a 15lb sledge. And I only use a bottle jack and a couple 3 ton jacks in my dirt driveway to work on the rig. Four swings as hard as I could. Popped right out.

 

Forget the pickle forks, they're useless IMO and they always damage boots (doesn't matter in your case). Get the pitman arm puller as suggested. But I too say get a bigger hammer. I always just use BFH & never had an issue popping out a ball joint on any car I've worked except for the RSX, the lower arms will get f'd up.

 

I just went with the OTC kit. Has everything you'll need - outer ties, ball joints, whatever. Hammering on components just doesn't sit right. When using the pullers, don't take the castle nut all the way off.

OTC 6295 Front End Service Set

$163 OTC 6295 Front End Service Set for Pitman Arms, Ball Joints, and Tie Rods

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SRH7O

 

Here’s my setup, jack was under the ball joint stud, I let the jack down overnight so it’s not shown here. Don’t mind the mess

 

And as far as getting the cv all the way out...my sway bar end links are not coming off without an angle grinder. Can I just disconnect the lower shock bolt?

 

Pickle fork is how i got both mine out