Kiff

So I've got the front of my truck torn apart to install my bj spacers, but i've come to a hold up, 3 studs from the ball joints don't want to come out, i pounded out 5. I've pounded on the 3, heated the ball joint, used pb blaster, still no luck. Any ideas?

TC4RNR

i ran into the same thing on the passenger side balljoint. what i did was renting a bj puller from autozone, took out the cotter pin, and the big castle nut, pull the bj out of the steering knockle. cut off the studs as close to the bottom as you can, you don't need them any more. i found a wooden pallet, put the bj between the slobs then punch the rest of the studs out. it took me good half hour to figure out what i'm gonna do with them, but only few minutes to do it. you should be fine.

ovrrdrive

I would either take them down to a local shop and slip a mechanic $10 to press them out or just go buy 2 new ball joints (aftermarket ball joints don't come with studs pressed in them) and use them. You know it wouldn't hurt to have new uppers anyway...

I just put mine on top of a vise that was opened up just enough so that the stud could go through and whacked it with the bfh. All of mine came right out.

elripster

One quick question, when you are pounding out the old hardware, are you doing so with the ball joint still in place essentially braced by the lower control arm? That's how I do it.

Frank

hodgepodge79

x2. I left everything assembled, only loosened the nuts so they engaged a few theads. Placing a jack under the front crossmember and raising the front-end up so the tires are just on the ground will allow the control arms to droop and give you a bit more room to swing the hammer. Try an air hammer.

Diesel_Freak

Bingo, that's what I did...

After NOT doing it on the first side I pulled my head out and figured that leaving them in place supports the BJ the best. Get out the BFH and go to town.

Dave

cootees

Press them out using a vise or press if available.... or you could just go buy new ball joints. They popped right out on the new ball joints I purchased.

Blizzard

I tried the vise method and had no luck... Finally I had to cut them with the angle grinder and later drill the holes... Rust acted like weld...

If I had known before I'd have bought new ball joints before installing the spacers!

David