Help - Lower Control Arms - ball joint won't pop
 

I'm a bit stumped as to how to get the front lower control arm off. I've now gone through two ball joint separator tools, the bolt bending on both.

Image of tool -
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_quG578K7H5...h/image009.jpg

I'm not sure what else to do, do I need to take the entire rotor off and use the tuning fork shaped remover? Ugh.

Thoughts???? :nix:

First, you'll have a better chance if your able to get that tool moved to the other hole, less chance of bending the bolt. You may have to pop that tie-rod off first to get a better angle at it. If ya can't do that....

Thread the nut back on til it's about flush with the end of the ball joint bolt, smack it with a good heavy dead-blow hammer.

I'll try anything before using a pickle fork, I hate them things, but have a few of them just in case.

I've seen mechanics take two ballpeen hammers and simultaneously hit the part the ball joint is fitted into. From the looks of your photo you would have to take the brake rotor off before you could do that. Something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX7GVWcB-bg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=LDsci-izhhc

Perhaps the time is at hand to heat and beat with a BFH. :)

Alternatively, you’re welcome to borrow my MB workshop tool. It’ll pop that sucker out in no time.
I can overnight it your way come Monday:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ljointtool.jpg
W203 shown

flip the tool you have it on upside down. the bolt should be facing the floor and use a long breaker bar and a rachet and it will pop out. it's nearly impossibly without a breaker bar or impact tools. be prepared to hear a loud bang!

For the control arms it was on the right way, you want the side with the single piece pushing up on the bolt. Flipping it wouldn't work.

Splinter, thanks a ton for the offer, and had this not worked out I would have loved to borrow that. Really appreciate you offering to do that for a fellow forum guy, an unknown. Thanks.

Anyway, i got medieval on it, and used a pickle fork. Both popped, pretty quickly actually. I mean that was a pretty easy job, if you can just get them to pop. Spent $320 on parts, where the dealership wanted $1200 total.

I just pulled my top joints. You need the smiting hammer. I put pressure on it (with the nut flush with the stuf) and then smacked the frame with a hammer one good blow and it immedately popped apart.