How would you use the separator tool to remove the balljoint from the knuckle? This tool will remove the arm from the ball joint, but you still have the stuck ball joint in the knuckle afterwards.

Thanks for the replys. To clarify, the ball joint that I am talking about is the one in the photo below.

This is the ball joint of the "upper" control arm (UCA) / tension strut rod. It is the foremost arm, or the one nearest the front of the vehicle. The housing fit up into the underside of the sterring knuckle and ball stud extends downward.

(Not the "lower" contol arm (LCA) where the ball joint is seated in the control arm itself and stud fits into the steering knuckle.)

A pickle fork and a BFH can usually take care of the LCA ball joint. The ball joint mounted in the steering knuckle, not so easy.

Im pretty certain you can use the tool on this... Just how a tierod goes into the knuckle - just this doesnt have an "arm" attached to it.

The flat part goes where the boot is and slim part ontop of the bolt.

When you impact the bolt in on the tool, it pushes the boot part up and out.

From recently replacing the front thrust arm which attaches to this, after that is off, there is enough room from the front of the knuckle (front of car direction) to put that tool on and pop it out.

Here you go...

Harbor Freight ball joint seperator - YouTube

Skip to 28 seconds.

Thanks for the video, that helps.

The difference between the E30 in the video and the X5 is the orientation of the ball joint. That seperator works wonders when seperating a control from the ball joint stud. I have already completed that step and am now trying to get the ball joint itself (the whole assembly as seen in the photo above) out of the steering knuckle. I can take a picture later and post it to help clarify which ball joint I am talking about and why it is such a bear to get at.

Thanks agian for the help.

Are you trying to remove the ball joint from the spindle?

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxMD...Rn!~~60_57.JPG

A punch and BFH should be able to remove the joint from the spindle/hub. Once you remove the two bolts securing the joint to the spindle.

Or the control arm that attaches to the joint?

LOL . . . Sorry if I am causing confusion. Yes, I am trying to get that damned balljoint out of the spindle/knuckle - just as you have it in the photo. Forget about the control arm, it's gone at this point - I just want to get the ball joint out of the knuckle.

I sprayed it up good with penetrating oil last night. When I get home this evening I am going to go after it with the pipe wrench as suggested by Junkycosmos and Kristophe. I will take photos later.

Thanks again.

[Edit] If I had the entire knuckle removed (as in your photo), I would just drive the darn thing out. What I am wanting to do is take it out without having to removed the entire knuckle. I realize it may come to this, but I am going to give the pipe wrech a shot first.

Yes, we understand how this works where the balljoint is connected to the arm getting removed. But the balljoint in question isn't mounted like this. There is nothing to lever against. Can't find a picture of just the balljoint, here it is circled. Once the tension strut is removed you are left with the balljoint in the knuckle. Thanks to Stunt for his picture in his 4.6 engine thread.
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/raci...-balljoint.jpg

Ohhhh... Ok i see, its mounted differently then i thought.


In this case rent the balljoint tool from advance auto, its a huge c clamp with different fittings that for example allows you to push on the stud while not putting pressure on the top of it.

The ball joint is press fitted into the hub. The bolts are there just to prevent it from slipping out. Only way to get it out is to beat it out with a BFH. Or make yourself a tool with a Big C-Clamp some pipe stock and plate stock to push it out.