Am I dumb? Can't yank control arms... Help ASAP

**mikey** · 05-26-2003, 01:10 PM

Okay, I dunno WTF is wrong with me, but I'm installing my DJM 4/6 drop and I can't get the lower control arms off for the life of me. I've got the rear all done except the notch, so I decided to start on the front so I could make the bumpy *** drive to my buddy with the plasma cutters house.

Anyway... I basically am trying to follow the instructionshere... I am to the point where the spring is removed (pic 5). How the hell do you get the spindle to seperate from the ball joint? So far I 1) Haven't been able to push the spindle down far enough to seperate it (dumb *** move by GM to face the ball joint DOWN

), 2) Have been unable to fit a spring compressor on the coil spring, 3) Been unable to seperate the balljoint from the upper control arm which would let me take off the whole spindle, and 4) Sworn a whole lot.

If anybody knows wtf I'm doing wrong, I'd love the help. thanks.

-M

**Jer** · 05-26-2003, 02:13 PM

take a sledge hammer and pound the $hit out of it. it will eventually give

**Mad Chemist** · 05-26-2003, 02:25 PM

I had to use a ball joint puller. Similar to a pitman arm puller. I beat the $hit out of the thing on mine and it wouldn't give.

**VicRed4.8** · 05-26-2003, 04:36 PM

I say go get the Big 'Ol Hammer and beat the piss out of it. My upper ball joint came out fairly easy using a pickle fork. The problem I had was removing the lower ball joint. We had to remove the pivit bolts and take the spring out from the back. Then we disconnected the brake lines and removed the spindle and LCA together, and hit them with the sledge till they let go of each other.

**scrapin'** · 05-26-2003, 04:42 PM

Loosen both ball joint nuts....don't removce them, just loosen them a few turns. Before compressing the spring hit the spindle right where the ball joint goes thru with a big f'n hammer. The pressure of the spring and the force of the hammer blows will "break" the seat that the tapered ball joints pins have. They should "pop" when it loosens. Then jack up the control arm, if you can install the spring compressor, remove the nuts from the ball joints and SLOWLY lower the control arm. The spring should be loose at this point. Be careful...coil springs can pop out under pressure....work safe.

**Mad Chemist** · 05-26-2003, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by scrapin'
The pressure of the spring and the force of the hammer blows will "break" the seat that the tapered ball joints pins have. They should "pop" when it loosens.

That won't work on 99+ trucks because the spring if forcing the balljoint into the spindle. The balljoint is flipped compared to earlier trucks. It sits above the spindle pointing down, not below pointing up.

**scrapin'** · 05-26-2003, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by Mad Chemist
That won't work on 99+ trucks because the spring if forcing the balljoint into the spindle. The balljoint is flipped compared to earlier trucks. It sits above the spindle pointing down, not below pointing up.

Doh...my bad. We must be talking about the LCA. I guess you'd have to use a pickle fork to seperate them....that sucks cause you know your getting new boots at the very least.

**FeeD** · 05-26-2003, 09:32 PM

the DJM lower control arms come with new balljoints and boots so bust out the pickle fork

**Troll** · 05-26-2003, 11:29 PM

Loosen the ball joint nut but don't take it off. Place the jack on the end of the ball joint stud. Jack it up just a little to let the spring help you. Then get two ball hammers. Place one on the spindle and use the other to hit the hammer on the spindle. When it pops loose put the jack back on the lower control arm. Undo the nut on the ball joint then let it down. You don't even need a spring compressor.