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Alternate for SST 09960-2001 Upper control arm separator
Good afternoon gents, my first post. I have been enjoying all the info, especially the recent AWD threads. I am in the process of re-booting my 09 LS460 front axle shafts and thought I had the tools to do it but find that the 2 ball joint separators that I have on hand do not fit the job. Can someone please point me to an alternative to the SST shown in the WSM?
Use a dead blow on the ball stud after putting the nut back on loosely to protect the threads, it will avoid any boot damage that occurs if you try and use the separator tools. Plus it works on literally any car
Thanks Anfanger & Striker 223 for your suggestions. I have been looking at the Amazon OTC kit and also thinking my 1 pound dead blow hammer is way too small.
For the moment I got around the problem of freeing up the upper control arms, I just let the steering knuckle hang out of the way of the axle shaft.
So anyway, I moved a little further today and got the snap ring off and the pinch bolt that secures the right side axle shaft bearing. Also got the engine oil drained and the front diff drained. The book doesn't say anything about draining the engine oil But I think I read that here somewhere.
So, I think that means I'm ready to remove the right front axle. The shop manual talks about the using a slide hammer and hook and I'm pretty sure they mean for both right and left axles. I have this ready to go including a nice hook from Amazon. I have it arranged about the only way I can make it work which is not exactly like the shop manual. I've hit it a few times and nothing is budging. So thats the first question ... Am I doing this right?
That is not a control arm. It is an axle. You need a sliding hammer with a hook, at least, it is what I used. I provided tools I used below including brass punch set.
Just to close this thread, I didn't buy a removal tool (yet) but I did complete the install of new boots for my RWD 09 axles. I wasn't able to extract the complete right side axle and had to instead separate the inner axle from the outer by separating the tripod joint. That actually went pretty well but then later I had to re-join the two axles and with them in position, I had to get the inner boot on and captured by the crimp type band clamp. I bought some really nice crimping pliers from Amazon called Knipex, they made it easy....Arnie
Alternate for SST 09960-2001 Upper control arm separator
