Lower Ball Joint removal help.

The steering stop can be tricky because it's asymmetric, wider on one side of the hole than the other. Many pullers will slip off. I ended up using a

$41 FIRSTINFO F3393 Patented Universal Windshield Wiper Arm Puller/Battery Terminal Removal Tool-Heavy Duty, Adjustable, Made in Taiwan

wiper arm puller with another C-clamp to prevent the jaws from spreading. Put the castle nut on backwards a few threads to give the puller tool's forcing screw more surface area to push against.

 

As mentioned. Re-install the 2 bolts that hold the steering stop into the knuckle/spindle. Put on a ball joint separator or the pickle fork you have, so there is pressure on the joint. Then hammer on the stop and/or knuckle with a 3lb sledge or bigger. It will separate. Have done a dozen of these or more.

 

I will reenforce the heat lol. Burn that sucker good.

 

I’m thinking 2 wraps should be good…


three is probably excessive.

 

Nope don't have an air hammer.

 

If only replacement steering stops are cheaper. Unfortunately they're $74 apiece online, more at the dealer parts counter.

 

Hey, OP,

Here is what I would try, and I think I'll be doing this soon since my LCA bushings seem to be squishy and not able to hold an alignment.

Finally found a video that should help you ! I would follow this tutorial on the LCA removal, he addresses the steering stop on the BJ as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p8KbMnVXYw

 

Hey everyone,
****Update****Thanks for all the suggestions and support. I took another crack at it today and the ball joint replacement was successful.
Lessons learned, Big hammer is needed, used a 40oz hammer and pickle fork and it came right off.
Swapped the ball joint and I'm back in action.

 

For potential future use, I ended up just hammering it with a sledge from the side. Kept it all bolted together, but loose. Hammered it off from where the steering stop hits, the unbolted the rest of the way.

 

I’d put some good, copper never-seize on that lower coilover shock bearing/bolt while it’s all apart…

(might even do the LCA bolts/sleaves while you’re at it)

 

Thanks, that's all been done, everything down there is new. LCAs with oem cam bolts and adjusters, tie rods ball joints, sway bar links and bushings UCAs and Coilovers less than a year old.

 

Cool, then you’ll have plenty of time to fix those cracks in your driveway….

 

Snarky for no reason? Yeesh.

 

Bite me.

I’ve been helping and razzing the dude for two days. I’m pretty sure he gets it.

 

Hey no worries lol, thats my Buddies driveway, I'll let him know!

 

Your buddy got a pressure washer….?

 

Yeah he's got one,
BTW, I let him know and He's got some jb weld and Bondo on the way to fix his driveway. #firstworldproblems

 

Hey. OP.

How did you get the ball joint pressed back into the lca hole?

I figure removing the old could be handled by a few taps from the sledge or a typical BJ removal tool.