Ball joint removal 2002 Tacoma.

I just installed Icon shocks and coil over but also needed to instal their upper control arms. I just can't get the ball joints out. Pounding doesn't work! I checked out a C clamp style puller but the is no room in the fire wall for the long screw. Any advise? Do I need to unhook control arm to completely release the rotor to get clearance outside of the fender for the tool to work?
At a loss and sooooo frustrated. Everything i on and ready to be attached and tighten up. Just have to get those things out!

 

Pardon my ignorance but are you trying to get the UBJ out of the steering knuckle or out of the UCA?

 

A lot of heat and a hammer is how i did it a couple times. Don't go too big on the hammer because the steel isn't all that thick around the UBJ and you can break it. Ask me how I know. If you get it out yourself, go ahead and put the slug adapter in the freezer for a while, heat up the spindle, and pop it in there quick before it expands. And clean all the dirt and rust on the top and bottom so you can get it flush and get the snap ring on.

The proper way would be to pull the whole spindle out. At least if your Cclamp press didn't work you could take it to a shop.

 

Been awhile since I did my LR UCA's, but (besides it being pressed in) I seem to remember there being a hard-to-see c-clip holding the UBJ in.

Make sure you've removed that. Makes it really hard otherwise. Trust me