spindle removal

U

undercnstrction

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Jan 11, 2010

#1

• Jan 11, 2010

• #1

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?

 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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#2

• Jan 11, 2010

• #2

get a pickle fork and pop it out.

 

U

undercnstrction

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#3

• Jan 11, 2010

• #3

stykthyn said:

get a pickle fork and pop it out.

Click to expand...

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

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Dec 19, 2002

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Jan 11, 2010

#4

• Jan 11, 2010

• #4

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

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Jan 11, 2010

#5

• Jan 11, 2010

• #5

Did you take the brake rotor off? typically the a-arm gets stuck on the inside lip of the brake rotor.

 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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Jan 11, 2010

#6

• Jan 11, 2010

• #6

they are like 10 bucks. put it under the ball joint and then hit it with your favorite BFH and watch it come loose.

 

U

undercnstrction

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#7

• Jan 11, 2010

• #7

1990Coupe said:

Did you take the brake rotor off? typically the a-arm gets stuck on the inside lip of the brake rotor.

Click to expand...

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.

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

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Jan 11, 2010

#8

• Jan 11, 2010

• #8

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.

 

NIKwoaC

中國製造

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Jan 11, 2010

#9

• Jan 11, 2010

• #9

SVT32VDOHC said:

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.

Click to expand...

+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

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Jun 11, 2003

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Jan 11, 2010

#10

• Jan 11, 2010

• #10

I think you can rent a ball joint tool from autozone. Pickle forks suck, they do more damage then good imo.

 

U

undercnstrction

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Jan 11, 2010

#11

• Jan 11, 2010

• #11

SVT32VDOHC said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

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Jan 11, 2010

#12

• Jan 11, 2010

• #12

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.

 

U

undercnstrction

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Jan 11, 2010

#13

• Jan 11, 2010

• #13

awesome! thanx for the help guys

 

Repostyle

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Jan 11, 2010

#14

• Jan 11, 2010

• #14

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.

 

U

undercnstrction

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Jan 12, 2010

#15

• Jan 12, 2010

• #15

i'll give that a shot before i start banging away on the ball joint. thanx.

 

U

undercnstrction

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Jan 12, 2010

#16

• Jan 12, 2010

• #16

got one spindle off. came off just like you guys said it would. i won't have a chance to remove the other side for a couple of days, but i'm sure it will work out the same way.

thanx for the help!!