What do you guys use to separate the upper control arm ball joint from the knuckle?

My pitman ball joint separator wont work


And I can't get this one to work either


I refuse to use the pickle fork type since that will guarantee a ruined boot. Any suggestions?

 

I'm surprised the second one didn't work.That's the go-to for me for the tough ones.

 

rent one from autozone...

 

Well, I hate to admit it but I used a maul to smack the knuckle. Two or three solid blows worked fine. If you are replacing the upper arms, oe new ones come with a new boot. Striking the knuckle runs a very small risk of cracking it. The secret is to hit it really hard.

 

It felt like the jaws were too small for the ball joint/boot. Have you been able to use that tool with those UCAs?

Does AZ have another separator that will work? I have both the ones on the pic.

Unfortunately I'm not replacing the UCAs so I can't goto town on them...

 

The steering knuckle holes that the ball joint studs sit in are tapered, you can hit them with a hammer to quickly distort the shape of the hole, and it will pop the ball joint stud out. I'd say this is the preferred (and quickest way) to remove any ball joint or tie rod from a knuckle. I never (ever) waste a single second on a pickle fork or any of the tools you have pictured in the OP.

Of course you have to be good with a hammer - you don't want to swing and miss, hitting something you aren't supposed to - and it will take a good swing as well. But it works.

I should probably emphasize that you are trying to hit the knuckle where the stud sits, not the actual ball joint, or ball joint stud.

 

I'm also surprised that the second tool didn't fit. Usually the very end is tapered and will allow the jaw opening to slide over the very bottom where it starts to narrow.

 

Update, I rented the bigger pitman tool like the one in the first picture, but bigger. Worked flawlessly...need to add that one to the smaller one in my tool box.

 

glad that worked for ya I like the fact that you can rent stuff for free...