I am sure I am doing something wrong today....I spent from 1030 this morning to about 9pm tonight trying to get the left hand lower ball joint to split...it wouldn't and hasn't yet. I have parked the car up for the night, try again tomorrow...I did the right side arm fine a couple of weeks ago., had some issues splitting the ball joint, used heat from a blow lamp and my splitter...the left side is 'welded' itself to the carrier. I can't get it apart, I have hit it, bent my splitter, bought two more and bent those too...I have hammered and chiselled it, all sorts. I am sure I was doing something wrong, don't think so, though. I took the spring weight off the wishbone and compressed the spring with a trolley jack and with the compression tool I made...that bit went well. This ball joint is a tough, I think the term is, SOB....Allan

 

Well with the help of my brother-in-laws two post ramp we got the ball joint off - it took an acetelene torch (handy hint - heat the threaded part of the stuck ball joint as it's the thinnest piece and really gets the heat into the tapered joint fast furious).....popped right out. and a mighty mallet..... All replaced, both sides, has made a real difference to the way the car drives.

 

Thanks for sharing. New seals, gaskets, o rings are always a good thing to use.
Using a vacuum to clean up debris is a good idea, but not a good idea if there
is fuel around. You probably saved others from having to learn the hard way.