<VV> Re: spring compression

[Keith Hammett]

See >> comments below in original message.

Keith Hammett

-----Original Message-----

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You can use a medium size hammer to shock the ball joint loose (leaving the
loosened nut on the joint stud to keep it  from flopping off if/when it
does come loose) by sharply wacking the side of the spindle boss which
will/should loosen the joint and allow the ball joint stud to fall out of
the spindle.

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>> Back the boss up with another medium sized hammer on the opposite side
that you are hitting.  This works much better.

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The ball joint itself might pose a problem.  About half of the ones I've
done will pop off with 5-6 sharp raps with the hammer on the spindle
boss...  and about half of them won't budge.

-----snip-----

>> Again back up the boss with another medium sized hammer and you will get
better results.  Sometimes you just got to use a pickle fork...

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Do NOT hit the stud, ever.   You'll never get the nut off, or back on again
if you mash up the stud.   Strike the spindle ball joint stud boss *only*...
the boss is the part of the spindle that the ball joint stud goes through.
If it's
tighter than all Hell, you may have to resort to the trusty pickle
fork.   Don't worry about the ball joint boot; replacements are available
at Auto Zone (I'll have the part number in a day, Seth) and in all
likelihood the one on the car is already decomposing.   Replace it when
everything goes back together while it's easy to get to.   Cheap.