how do I remove control arm

[Saturdee]

how in the world do I get this out? I tried hammering the top, and twisting it, I don't know what else I could even do. It's very frustrating

 

[importracr317]

Go to Auto-Zone and buy a ball joint seperator tool, or what some people call a "pickle fork".

They look like this:

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Put it over the ball joint, bang on the end with a hammer a few times and viola! It will seperate.

I've swapped out quit a few ball joints, each time this tool was required. Good luck!

 

[99gst_racer]

I second the use of a pickle fork. You can buy one for around $10-$15. I've also heard that you can rent them from Autozone. It comes in handy with upper and lower BJs, so it's worth buying one. Make sure you lube the fork "prongs" with greese to prevent friction from tearing the boot.

 

[agarc023]

Wish I would know about those forks... damn pos control arm took forever to hammer out

 

[agentorange313]

Wish I would know about those forks... damn pos control arm took forever to hammer out

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE YOU SHOULD NEVER HAMMER THE THREADED SIDE!!!!!! one of the worst ideas. you can damage the threads and the joint. its all about finess unless it needs to be shocked to come out, but then it shouldn't have threads.

 

[agarc023]

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE YOU SHOULD NEVER HAMMER THE THREADED SIDE!!!!!! one of the worst ideas. you can damage the threads and the joint. its all about finess unless it needs to be shocked to come out, but then it shouldn't have threads.

It was a long time ago...and we weren't hammering on it directly. It had the nut sitting flush and a chunk of wood on top

 

[agentorange313]

yea np

It was directed toward anyone else trying it in the future, but yea wood defiantly will help the impact shock, good idea with the nut also.

 

[red_devil]

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE YOU SHOULD NEVER HAMMER THE THREADED SIDE!!!!!! one of the worst ideas. you can damage the threads and the joint. its all about finess unless it needs to be shocked to come out, but then it shouldn't have threads.

Unless you are replacing the ball joint, then you can hammer away

 

[crash89]

They also make a took thats is kind of like a pully seperator, my roommate bought one of those. Just food for thought. I prefer the pickle fork myself.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I used the hammer method as well. I too had the nut sitting just above the top of the threds and a piece of wood. It took a few good hits, but it came out.

 

[Saturdee]

Guess I need a pickle fork. And I'm not worried about the boot, that already tore. I unbolted the two bolts holding the arm to the car, and when I layed it down I guess it somehow ripped a little hole in the boot. I probably shouldn't have done that, guess I gotta learn somehow

 

[LiquidX]

I got mine separated by hard hammering on the side of the arm where the threads go through.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Well, the best way to learn is by doing.

 

[Saturdee]

Well, the best way to learn is by doing.

amen.

While I'm at autozone, should I ask for the control arm boot? Like will they have that or is it a dealer only thing

 

[LiquidX]

I think they sell "universal" boots, however the lower control arms (front anyway) are non serviceable. So, which arm is it that you are tying to remove anyway?

Nevermind, that's the front passenger lower curved arm right? Try to see if a boot will work, if not that arm is about $120 I believe.

 

[Saturdee]

I think they sell "universal" boots, however the lower control arms (front anyway) are non serviceable. So, which arm is it that you are tying to remove anyway?

Nevermind, that's the front passenger lower curved arm right? Try to see if a boot will work, if not that arm is about $120 I believe.

yeah it's the one on the passenger side that curves to the left

So does anyone know if I could replace this boot or not? I'm heading out to advanced auto soon

 

[importracr317]

I wouldn't replace just the boot, you can get cheap enough ball joints and control arms on rockauto.com that I wouldn't risk it. Bad things can happen when ball joints give out.

 

[nickk90]

I wouldn't get a control arm from rockauto or any parts stores. I did that a year ago and already hae to replace them again. I just got the OEM knuckle kit from extremepsi for $108 a side.