Ball Joint Removal?

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by hunds02

I know this thread as been beaten to death already, but didn't want to start a new one...

I have spent the better half of two days trying to remove the ball joint. First I kept the thrust arm attached and hammered with a 4 lb BFH for awhile. No bueno. I then rented the ball joint press from Autozone, which consists of a huge C clamp and a few plates and different size pipe stock. Before using this, I purchased the 3/4" Ball Joint Remover from Harbor Freight to separate the thrust arm from the ball joint so I can use the tool from Autozone. I didn't realize until later that ball joint press kit will not work as you would be essentially compressing the ears of the ball joint into the knuckle.



Next I decided to wack at it from the top with a punch and hammer. I already had the CV joint removed for some room. As you can see below, I did some damage, but not enough.



I've scoured the forum before posting, and the only other two options I can think of is renting a slide hammer that I do not know how to use for this case or (more preferably) purchase a super duty air hammer with a 3/4" tapered punch.

If anyone has any ideas please chime in. I'd like to get the car off the jack stands by next weekend (been 1 week already).

I used a screwdriver and a hammer. Put the screwdriver against the ball joint flange and the steering knuckle and pound. The flange will bend to the point the screwdriver blade can go in between the flange and steering knuckle. Keep pounding. The blade will act as a wedge and pull the ball joint down to where you can get a pry bar in there and finish pulling the ball joint. That's the way I did it anyway.