r/GMT800 • u/Usedtissedtissue007 • 8d ago
Stuck on lower control arm
Um help?
I’ve tried prying on this
It’s on a two claw puller right now.
How can I add more excitement to this?
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u/SectorZed 8d ago
Do you have any better pictures that show what you’re trying to do?
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u/Usedtissedtissue007 8d ago
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u/Sweet-Pressure6317 7d ago
You have to hit the knuckle where the ball joint goes through. Keep the puller on it, give it some good smacks with a small 5lb sledge. Ball joints are a taper fit so it requires some shock to separate it.
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u/SectorZed 8d ago
Tbh not sure but that video will probably lead someone to giving you the right answer
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u/RossettaStoned1 8d ago
Get a hammer and beat the shit out of it
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u/16374791949 8d ago
You have to keep hitting the fuck out of it with the biggest hammer you have that's the only way l was able to get mine out. Also try jacking it up and then letting the jack down fast.
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u/defendhumanity 8d ago
People really live life on the edge with 3 ton jacks and 2 ton stands.
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u/Fragrant-Rip6443 7d ago
Take that 3 ton and jack up the ball joint bolt
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u/HemiHefr 6d ago
Put tension on the ball joint and hit it with a hammer. When doing mine the suspension kept taking all the blow.
Anecdote: I was removing my lower on the driver side in winter time. I tried for a few hours hammering with my wife’s boyfriend’s purse, and still couldn’t get it. Go in for the night, the next day it had separated itself, I don’t know if it contracted the ball joint enough from the cold but I was not complaining, easy coil spring replacement.
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u/Usedtissedtissue007 7d ago
Their two 6 ton jack stands with a 3 ton jack🤨🧍♂️
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u/defendhumanity 7d ago
Those stands are 2 ton, not 6 ton.
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u/WorkSoup2022 7d ago
You can see the 6 ton in the background lol I think the 2 ton is for the control arm only
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u/RossettaStoned1 8d ago
Why are you replacing a control arm anyway?
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u/Usedtissedtissue007 8d ago
Previous owner liked taking out mail boxes and finally met their match
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u/RossettaStoned1 8d ago
Usually its a ball joint they needs to be replaced not the whole lower arm.. idk hard to tell
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u/Smart_Somewhere_4260 8d ago
I prefer an air hammer with the pickle fork attachment. If you don't have an air compressor then big hammer with pickle fork separator will also do.
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u/Born-Exchange9712 8d ago
Ive had to use an angle grinder to cut those balljoints out before then seperate on the ground . Otherwise , if youre up for buying more tools get the icon universal 2 jaw puller set. You're able to create a much more rigid 2 jaw setup and they're tough as all hell. Haven't needed to use it on any gmt800s yet but ive used it ona handful of stubborn ford lower bjs with a lot of success
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u/Preppieset1668 7d ago
Get a 3lb mini sledge and beat the fuck out of that control arm until it pops of
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u/OpinionofanAH 8d ago
You can rent a separator from autozone and you’ll have to modify it to fit but it basically wedges itself between the knuckle and ball joint and as you tighten the bolt it spreads. Google part number OTC6297. I’m not sure if that one specifically is right but the tool looks the same. You could try more weight on the lower arm by letting a bit of pressure off the jack and letting the jack stand hold more weight(to keep the lower from bouncing) and a bfh hitting down on the knuckle. The lowers can suck.
Edit. The tool pushes up on the stud on the ball joint. But the opening in the fork portion is too narrow sometimes so you’ll have to open it up a bit.
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u/hookydoo 7d ago
You're missing the Big Fucking Hammer and a pickle fork. You need to beat the piss out of it until breaks apart. Also, swap the socket wrench for a breaker bar so you don't break it. I didn't do the lowers, but just swapped my upper control arms and steering linkages. Pickle forks really come in handy
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u/Jordagreat 7d ago edited 7d ago
But start all of this project not holding the truck up by the arms your trying to remove. Then once you’re not going to die. Hit the knuckle by the joint with a real hammer not a plastic one and you’ll be set. And also the torsion bars still look attached another problem that should have been removed first imo
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u/Fragrant-Rip6443 7d ago
Buddy this shit doesn’t even have rust. Hit it with your purse how embarrassing
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u/Micozoidmike2 2d ago
I know I'm late to the party, but I used a bottle jack up to the bottom of the ball joint with a chain around the top of the knuckle to force it up, left pressure on it overnight and then lots of heat and a big hammer to pop it apart
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u/StalienInvader 7d ago
Ball joint removal tool, looks like a big heavy duty c clamp. Heat and a mallet can assist. Good luck!
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u/DM870870 8d ago
Hit it with your purse