mdude

i am getting ready to redo my bushings but i need to remove the front lower arm. i tried removing the A arm and then the lower front but it doesn't seem to budge. Any suggestions would help. thanks

WaLieN

Did you also remove the spindle, shock, etc? If so, just hit it with a rubber mallet. There isn't much of a science to removing the LCA, it's more of brute force.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

You need a ball joint separator or some other means of separating the balljoint. When I replaced my lower control arms, they actually used an impact, air gun with the ball joint separator. Order up a set of the rubbers that cover the ball joints and get the ball joint grease before moving progressing any further. You will need them.

Jimlab had a post in the suspension section that addressed removal of the LCA. I think he said something to the affect of replacing the castle nut with some generic nut and then hit it with a BFH repeatedly. You want to use a generic nut as it will get destroyed from the BFH.

Good luck.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

I tried every trick in the book including custom modified separators, pickle forks, and multiple BFHs and nothing would budge mine. I ended up removing the arm and attached hub as one unit. This does require disconnecting the brake lines and tie rod (the latter is very easy) so I used it as an opportunity to replace my brake lines.

You may have more luck than I did - but remember if you screw up the lower ball joint you will have to replace the entire arm and it is not cheap.

mdude

maybe i will just take out the whole thing out instead of screwing up the ball joint. i already tried the ball joint separator but had no luck.

flunkysama

iTrader: (4)

A couple of notes.

* You can get new ball joint boots. So if you mangle one it's not the end of the world. It's probably a good idea to replace them
FD01-34-313 Lower Ball Joint Boot
FD01-34-213 Upper Ball Joint Boot

*If you remove the arm and spindle before you seperate the ball joint from the spindle, support the spindle when you hammer on it, not the lower arm. I sounds obvious but a lot of people screw this up.

* To remove the lower ball joint, I used a separator, a big hammer, lots of PB-Blaster and a propane torch. (Heat is your friend)

* For the upper ball joint, the bolt needs to be removed, not just loosened. PB-Blaster and a screwdriver or chisel thats just the right size is the key.