How to separate a steering knuckle from a ball joint stud?
July 19, 2010 8:35 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to replace the driveshafts on both sides of a 2001 Grand Caravan. Right now, I'm working on the passenger side, and am completely unable to separate the steering knuckle from the ball joint stud. I've loosened the stud nut (it won't come completely off until the knuckle is raised) and have hammered a pickle fork in as far as it will go in every direction I can manage. It is always stopped by digging into the control arm, never by resistance from the knuckle. I've tried heating the knuckle, with no success. Any tips?
Best answer: Smack both sides of the steering knuckle with 2 pound sledges at the same time. Take the pickle fork out first.
You may have to spin the castle nut back on, just a turn loose from fully tight, and hit *it*. Ugly.
posted by notsnot at 9:08 PM on July 19, 2010
You may have to spin the castle nut back on, just a turn loose from fully tight, and hit *it*. Ugly.
posted by notsnot at 9:08 PM on July 19, 2010
Response by poster: I'll give that a try. I didn't think of using the nut to shield the bolt; I wanted to try tapping it but didn't want to damage the threads and end up having to replace the ball joint as well. Thanks.
posted by Ickster at 9:13 PM on July 19, 2010
posted by Ickster at 9:13 PM on July 19, 2010
Best answer: Hammering on the side of the knuckle will often loosen the ball joint. The other option would be to unbolt all the other suspension arms which bolt to the bottom of the strut and see if you can pop the cv out then.
posted by onya at 9:30 PM on July 19, 2010
posted by onya at 9:30 PM on July 19, 2010
Response by poster: I'll try hammering the knuckle tomorrow. The top of the knuckle connects directly to the strut, so I'm not sure I'd have clearance to remove the axle if I disconnected it. In any case, with all of my efforts I've torn the ball joint boot so I need to get the knuckle off to replace the boot. Sigh.
posted by Ickster at 10:06 PM on July 19, 2010
posted by Ickster at 10:06 PM on July 19, 2010
If you have already damaged the ball joint anyway, jam the pickle fork in as far as possible and then use an extension (pipe) to pry the joint apart.
posted by gjc at 2:39 AM on July 20, 2010
posted by gjc at 2:39 AM on July 20, 2010
Response by poster: Hammered quite a bit on the knuckle and then managed to get the pickle fork in there and whaled on it. Just as I was done venting my frustration, it came free. Thanks for the advice.
posted by Ickster at 9:18 PM on July 20, 2010
posted by Ickster at 9:18 PM on July 20, 2010
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posted by Ickster at 8:36 PM on July 19, 2010