Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ball joints help

[skip1996]

I have a Dana 60 on my 1996 4x4 on the front end. I can't get my ball joints off. I have everything off except the ball joints themselves. on the top ball joint, after you remove the nut, there is another nut looking device that is confusing me. The shop manual says to bang them off with a brass hammer and no go #@$%!. Can I cut them off with a torch so that the steering knuckle is off and out of the way and I have more room to work on getting the ball joints out? What am I doing wrong. If you have a solution, you can either post it or you can call me at 970 881 2019. I am 65 miles from the nearest city and would appreciate any advice you can give me. Also my email is -- email address removed --, leave a phone # and I can call you back.

 

[EDankievitch]

Ok, if you have everything off and both nuts off the upper and lower balljoints and I mean all of the nuts. All you have to do is put some down ward pressure with a pickel fork or a pinch bar and smack the steering knuckel hard with a hammer along side the taper of the ball joint it will pop right off You might have to hit the upper and lower ball joint but it will pop right off... ...

 

[tp0d]

Go to your local tool rental and get a "porta power" aka small hydraulic ram. You want the kit with the 3" ram, and then you`ll have to fab up some spacers to interface to the ram. I used some 1 1/2 and 1 1/4" pipe nipples, and some various odds and ends. .

made the job a breeze. . no beatin your brains out. .

good luck

-j

--edit

if you have a torch available, try heating only the knuckle around the joint, not the balljoint itself tho. Then give it a whack. (only heat the knuckle to 200 max)