dnmacdon

So I've successfully changed out two front lower ball joints on a 2005 Civic recently. On this car (2004 LX 4 door), I wasn't able to get the ball joint to separate. The ultimate goal was to remove the drive axles and transmission so I ended up biting the bullet and removing the knuckle-to-strut mounting bolts, which I was trying to avoid.

I tried what's worked for me in the in the past, a pivoting ball joint tool that looks similar to the one in the service manual. No pop, but it did start to mushroom the end of the stud a little. So I tried the jack-and-insert-ratchet trick, no pop. Tried "beating the snot out of it" (as a wise man once wrote) with a sledge (to the LCA), and tried doing the same while a helper reefed on it with a pry bar. Nothing. I've tried each of these two or three times. Spent over an hour, maybe two on this ******* ball joint.

It's the original, 12-year old, OEM ball joint and LCA, although the other side popped out with the ball joint tool no problem. I'm at a loss. I do need to replace it as there's now some play. Any help would be appreciated!

ezone

If it has to be replaced, get a pickle fork.

guitarsnlikker

pickle fork worked on my 11 year old original ball joints.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

left mine for days, soaking everyday and tightening the tool everyday. then, one day, i heard a bang from the garage. it was finally out.

Colin42

heat helps too

mikey1

no ball joint is any competition for a pickle fork and sledge hammer

Colin42

one of mine was

mikey1

your not strong enough

Colin42

we broke the pickle fork

dnmacdon

Yeah, the trouble I'm having with the pickle forks is that they're not tall enough. I've got a set of five on loan from a local auto parts store and none are quite thick enough to put pressure on the LCA and knuckle. I guess the gap is larger on Hondas than on other cars? I'll go looking for a bigger pickle fork I guess.

I'll also give heat a try. I only have access to a propane torch but I'll give it a shot, heat the LCA and see if it does the trick.

I've also been trying the sustained pressure trick, had the balljoint tool on there for the last couple of days, as tight as I can make it. I'll keep this up too if the others don't work.

So that's three plans of attack. Place your bets...

Colin42

keep the pressure on and then hit it with the heat, it will probably let go

dnmacdon

Propane torch + pressure from the ball joint separator = burning rubber + one popped ball joint.

Heat was the thing. Thanks everybody!

dnmacdon

Now that I think about it, given all the pounding with a sledge, do I need to be concerned about the integrity of the control arm? I'll have a look for obvious cracks, anything else I should check for?

Thanks again!

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

Great!

About the lca, if you find you can't get alignment, it could have bent...

120 bucks with bushings was what I paid.several years ago