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i loosened the one in pink/red and the green one i removed fully.
BE CAREFUL!! the first time i did it i had my jack stand under the lower arm by the ball joint just for some support when working around this area , i didnt need it there , but what happened was having a jack stand there actually compresses the spring and when i removed the lower arm bold (horizontal one, green in the above picture) the arm swung out quickly because the spring could decompress.
when i did the other side i had no problems then
i know my brake line is hanging on by a thread but i got a block to rest it on after the pic was taken. the piece of wood just helped keep the arm where i wanted it.
when you get to here and remove the pinch bolt and the 3 nuts under the hood/bonnet holding the spring and shock.
it takes a bit of wiggling and some lubricant but it worked without removing the sub frame
So this where I'm at....I got the rotor off got the drop link off the tie rod end off but the ball joint is freaking impossible. ...so after reading that post do you think I can get away with just disconnecting the bolt on the control arm only and hopefully it will help?
So this where I'm at....I got the rotor off got the drop link off the tie rod end off but the ball joint is freaking impossible. ...so after reading that post do you think I can get away with just disconnecting the bolt on the control arm only and hopefully it will help?
Okay you are going to need to get a pickle fork and a wrench to fit and separate the ball joint. I’ll post a link with a good angle on what you have to do. I’m assuming you took off the pinch bolt off the strut.
Okay you are going to need to get a pickle fork and a wrench to fit and separate the ball joint. I’ll post a link with a good angle on what you have to do. I’m assuming you took off the pinch bolt off the strut.
Okay you are going to need to get a pickle fork and a wrench to fit and separate the ball joint. I’ll post a link with a good angle on what you have to do. I’m assuming you took off the pinch bolt off the strut.
it looks like you have your hub/control arm jacked up, thats exactly what i said NOT to do because the spring is compressed and if you did manage to get everything disconnected it can still push you or other parts out of the way its dangerous , jack up under the sill and use a wooden block not to damage anything
no offense but you are making this twice as hard and dangerous as it should be
it looks like you have your hub/control arm jacked up, thats exactly what i said NOT to do because the spring is compressed and if you did manage to get everything disconnected it can still push you or other parts out of the way its dangerous , jack up under the sill and use a wooden block not to damage anything
no offense but you are making this twice as hard and dangerous as it should be
I was doing that but I let the jack down and the ball joint stays out enough to get the pickle fork in...thanks for the concerns mate
you can use a rubber hammer for hitting the lower arm if its really stuck , this job takes a lot of patience , muscle , sweat and wriggling pieces.
it's a labor of love..lol I work grave and I'm super tired afterwards so I dedicate 1-2 hours a day to work on it...I'm getting a second pickle fork today see if I can get it...I'm not gonna quit, I want to own more X types in the future and I'm gonna learn as much as I can.
Okay so I final got it out yesterday I used an adjustable wrench and a pickle fork...The wrench hooked around the ball joint and then I shimmied the pickle fork and it popped out. No need to loosen up control arm. But I did damage some thing...
1. I damaged the piece of metal the sits on the ball joint and want to replace it but what is it callled. (Pic)
2. The rubber around the ball joint is tore up, I saw online they sell ball joint dust covers, has anyone used one or know ow someone who has and is it a good idea? Or should I replace the ball joint all together?
3. The clip that the wheel sensor clips on too is damaged...is it easy and taking the screw out and pulling it out and putting another one in?
Man, what a mess. You have 2 options = replace entire arm or buy the aftermarket ball joint replacement where you grind off (CAREFULLY!!!) the studs for the included bolts/nuts.
Last edited by Dell Gailey; Apr 3, 2019 at 05:58 PM.
Replacing the rubber boot should be simple if you can find a suitable replacement. Make sure you clean everything well and repack the ball joint with fresh grease.
Go to your local O'Rielly, NAPA, ect auto parts store, take the torn boot with you and they might be able to provide you with a universal replacement boot that will work.
