|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 131
CEG\'er
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 131 |
Now that I've finally got the pinch bolt out of the knuckle, it won't come out of the A-arm!! I've got a pry bar but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Does anyone have any ideas????
Darren
'98 Mystique LS -Duratec, MTX
Nakamichi CD-40z, Knauberized, KKM tru rev intake, 9MM Motorsport Wires, SVT Springs/Struts
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 58
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 58 |
I did my wifes oh her Focus a couple of months ago. I shoved in a ball joint seperator, and it poped apart after a few wacks with a hammer. Make sure when you put it back together, that the pin sits all the way in and grabs on the ridge, or it will come apart, which if very bad.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 496
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 496 |
Having fun yet? The balljoint stem is rusted to the knuckle. I haven't looked at the knuckle in a while,but if it is sloted like the area where the strut sits in the knuckle, take a flat or a wedged pry bar and open up the slot. Spray it good with a rust buster/ penetrent. It will take some work. I had one side that busted balls and the other side came out in a fraction of the time.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,325
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,325 |
Originally posted by eepals:
Having fun yet? The balljoint stem is rusted to the knuckle. I haven't looked at the knuckle in a while,but if it is sloted like the area where the strut sits in the knuckle, take a flat or a wedged pry bar and open up the slot. Spray it good with a rust buster/ penetrent. It will take some work. I had one side that busted balls and the other side came out in a fraction of the time.
Even after getting the ball joint loose I still had problems.
On my 97 V6 I COULD NOT get the ball joint out of the knuckle all the way without extra work. I tried stepping on the a-arm, pickle fork, pry bar but the subframe just does not allow the a arm to drop low enough to clear the knuckle. You could 1) (recommeded way) find a way to compress the spring up about 1 inch to get the clearance. Some people have used stategicly placed bottle jacks and blocks of wood IIRC. Be very careful as there's a LOT of force stored even with just an inch or so of compression! or 2) (harder) lower the subframe about 1 inch.
At least on my car there was no other way to get it out without doing one of these 2 things. Since I was pulling the subframe for a clutch anyway I just did that first and the ball joint end slid right out.
97 Contour SE MTX
K&N 3530, UR UDP, 19# Injectors, mystery mod, FMS wires, Fordchip.com chip, SVT: TB, Flywheel, clutch, exhaust
04 Grand Caravan SXT
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 58
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 58 |
That's right, I had to jack up the strut to get clearance to pop it out, forgot about that!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,165
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,165 |
I used a pry bar and a big hammer.
I live in Detroit, I couldn't give a **** how good my car is in the "twisties."
"I could use a hundred people who don't know there is such a word as impossible."
~Henry Ford
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770 |
Open up the clamp a little with a chisel. Place the chisel in the slot and tap with a hammer. The metal a little soft so it will give enough to slide it out. Same with the strut socket.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 131
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 131 |
I put a screwdriver in there to try to pry it open and it broke off. Unfortunately, I had to put everything back together because I won't have time to finish it before tomorrow night and I need to move it. Which brings me to my next question:
Why won't my car start?!? Its never failed to start except when the battery has died. Now it is not turning over and I fail to see why me trying and failing to replace my struts and springs would have this effect. I didn't touch anything except the brakes and the various suspension parts involved. Is is because the car doesn't like being tipped up at such an angle for so long (i had the nose up on two jackstands for more than a day)?
Darren
'98 Mystique LS -Duratec, MTX
Nakamichi CD-40z, Knauberized, KKM tru rev intake, 9MM Motorsport Wires, SVT Springs/Struts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
