Date:         Sun, 16 Sep 2001 09:32:01 EDT
Reply-To:     Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: How to remove upper ball joint???
Comments: To: knust-net@gmx.net
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Use a tie rod separator $12 at Autozone
And a Pitman arm separator: $12 at Autozone.

A few turns and the joint pops out easily.

The upper arm does not retain the spring, the body does, so no need to
compress.
Remove the two 8 mm allen bolts, swing the arm up, remove the nut holding the
joint on, use the tie rod separator to pop the joint out, put a new joint in
and put it all back together.

When you are done have the alignment checked.

No need for a pickle fork.  It would not work for me. I hammered away and it
would not come loose. I then got the tie rod separator and it popped out
easily.  I first use a heavy duty puller to get the bottom joint out, but it
required me removing the entire arm.  During my front end rebuild, I got the
pitman arm separator and the bottom joint came out just as easy.

Robert

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