so i was trying to take off the spindles over the weekend on my ride ('87 GT). i was able to get everything removed EXCEPT the spindle. i got the strut, springs, sway bar, etc etc. but i could not get the spindle off of the ball joint. how do you remove it??!! do i need a special tool to basically "press" the ball joint stud out of the spindle? i would assume i'll need the same tool for the sn95 parts?
spindle removal
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is that a tool that basically clamps onto the bottom of the spindle with a long bolt that you screw down on top of the ball joint stud and that will force the spindle off of the bolt?
Beasty306GT
Active Member
u need a pickle fork...its made to pop ball joint..insert it right under the spindle and bang on it and it should come loose
1990Coupe
Founding Member
Did you take the brake rotor off? typically the a-arm gets stuck on the inside lip of the brake rotor.
they are like 10 bucks. put it under the ball joint and then hit it with your favorite BFH and watch it come loose.
yes, the entire assembly is "clean" except for the spindle itself. the strut and spring are out, the sway bar is gone, the end links are gone, all of the brakeing pieces and bearing are all removed.
Take a 3 pound sludge and wack the spindle right where it presses onto the balljoint. 2 or 3 wacks and it will pop off.
Pickle forks usually ruin ball joint boots or the fork just bends.
Pickle forks usually ruin ball joint boots or the fork just bends.
+1 for the hammer method. Use a dead blow or a brass head hammer if you are afraid of breaking anything. Or a well-placed piece of wood.
MAC'n89Blckstng
Active Member
I think you can rent a ball joint tool from autozone. Pickle forks suck, they do more damage then good imo.
do you mean to hit it from the top and drive the ball joint down towards the ground? where the king nut (or whatever it's called) is? or do you mean to tap on the bottom of the ball joint to break it loose? not trying to be a pain in the ***, i just want to make sure i hit the correct area with the BFH
lancec2c30
Member
Get a big hammer, put the king nut back on the bolt, but put it on upside down. Thread it down until just before the stud is flush with the nut. Now hit the king nut (placed upside down) with the hammer. Be careful not to hit the nut off square or beat on it too many times, as you will ruin the threads.
You should be able to break it free with two good smacks.
You should be able to break it free with two good smacks.
Repostyle
Member
The best damage free way that I've found is to hit the spindle itself with a hammer. Not the ball joint, you will ruin the stud before it comes loose.
You just hit the spindle on the side right at the ball joint shaft. If you're doing it right, it's a horizontal swing, not vertical. You should be hitting it right at the base of the spindle. Two or three MAN sized whacks and it will come loose.
You just hit the spindle on the side right at the ball joint shaft. If you're doing it right, it's a horizontal swing, not vertical. You should be hitting it right at the base of the spindle. Two or three MAN sized whacks and it will come loose.
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