Lower Ball Joint

[91scortgt]

Ran into a snag doing tranny swap out.

How the hell does the lower ball joint come off?

Will a ball joint tool work?

If not, anyone got a pic of that assembly so I can remove it to get clearance to pull the half shafts.

[Jho]

Ran into a snag doing tranny swap out.

How the hell does the lower ball joint come off?

Will a ball joint tool work?

If not, anyone got a pic of that assembly so I can remove it to get clearance to pull the half shafts.

Take the pinch bolt that holds the bj to the knuckle off. Then separate the knuckle from the bj with a prybar and hammer.

What kind of ball joint tool are you talking about? If you were thinking of using a pickle fork, those are only good for removing a bj that you don't plan on reusing, as they will damage it.

It would be easier to remove the two bolts that hold the strut to the spindle.

[Denis]

Why do you need to remove the ball joint to get the tranny out? Waist of time if you ask me. I unbolt the tie rod end and unbolt the strut from the spindel. It's so much easier to put back to gether.

[rusty]

I would do it just like dennis said, I have done it without taking the tierod end out as well. You just have to turn the steering wheel just right to pull the axle. If you unlock the steering wheel you can do it from the spindle.

[91scortgt]

Both ball joints are blown out and I am replacing them anyway, so it does not matter if they get destroyed, also took the strut and the tie rod end off, it did enough clearance to pull the half shaft out but not enough to clear the tranny to drop it out.

Since I have the full poly kit from ES, it will just make it easier to replace the control arm bushings with the polys, if I break it down all the way. Etiher way its a pain in the ass but worth it in the end.

Plus now I'll have acess to everything else that needs replaced with the polys.

[91scortgt]

Well, got the tranny out. It was not as easy as I remembered when I changed the engine, but it did come out just the way everyone on other parts of the forum said. Will post pics as soon as I get my camera back.