Ball Joint Removal! AH!!!

[Itzallstock]

I rented the ball joint remover and the tie rid remover from auto zone. I am trying to remove the tie rods from the hub assymb up front. I am putting a new trans in.......
I also have to replace the power steering rack too. The fork tool is not working out for me. Is that possibly becasue my hub assymb is disconnected from the shock tower? I may need to hook the hub back up to the shock tower and then try removing the tie rods? I did this all once before but I cant remeber how i got thoose little guys otta there. I thought i jsut beat them out with a hammer, but now i am really bugging up the threads.........
-Thanks
Ben
I took the castle nuts off already...........

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I used a pickle fork with the shock tower still connected. It can be a PITA.

 

[Itzallstock]

Heres the other thing, thoose boots now are torn to shit.............Something I should replace? I will try mouting back on the shock towers and then prying in a downward motion. I needed to get the tranny out quick so i jsut flopped the half shafts and ran it over to a really good shop by me. It takes them 2 weeks to check things out but the price and quality is amazing. Plus being a bench job the guy was happy!
Ben
The power steering rack also looks like a treat to work on! Ergh, mitsu dealer here i come.....
-Ben

 

[Flash]

Well if the boot is torn the tie rod ends need to be replaced anyway so might as well just beat the sh*t out of them with a hammer.

 

[Todd TCE]

Loosen the nut to about two thread left.

Step back with a heavy (maybe 5#) BFH and get a good square 'whack' on the housing around the tapered joint. It'll pop out like butter. Well, it might take a couple swings if they're reeeally old. Don't own a pickle fork and never will. Don't need one.

 

[WatchItExplode]

I used a pickle fork and it just took a bit of stomping and lining up the tool again. Eventually they came out but not undamaged I was planning to replace them anyway though.