Any trick to removing a lower ball joint from a lower control arm?

[Grec]

I see that it is nothing more than a tapered shaft that goes into the control arm and is then bolted/pinned at the top but I couldn't get the thing to budge.

Anyone have a good method for getting it loose?

[Bullitt-]

Grec, I just went thru this process myself. 1st Spray on a penetrating lubricant & let sit over night, 2nd Heat with a propane torch, 3rd Strike with hammer. RE: striking if you are replacing ball joint don't worry, but if you are like me trying to preserve the part make an intermediate implement to hit that will save the threads .

[tactransman]

If you are mad about anything , now is a good time to take care of the anger.
Take the nut loose,if you do not have a "pickle fork" wack  the side of it squarely with a hammer, you have to release that taper fit.

 Bullitt , I have never had to heat it , that is usually not recommended on suspension parts.

[Grec]

When you say "whack the side of it squarely", you're talking about hitting the control arm where the ball joint threads go through?

[tactransman]

Yes , alittle downward force on the control arm at the same time helps too. Just be careful. You do have the car supported good , right.

[Grec]

Actually, the control arm in question is off the car. The one that's on it now is bent. I bought a replacement ('73 with sway bar bracket) that came with an old ball joint attached.

If it's way easier to do this while it's on the car, I suppose I could mount it and then get the old ball joint off...

And yes, it would be on jackstands.  I never want to go out by being crushed by my own frickin' car. :-)

[tactransman]

If you do not want the old ball joint , put it in a vice and hit it straight and real  hard right on the end of the threads,knocking it straight out of the hole.

The reason I said something about supporting the car good is a transmission guy died here in this county about 12 years ago when a car fell on him and smothered him. I have just never forgot it.

[360 'CUDA]

Probably should go buy a pickel fork.  I use them alot myself

[Grec]

Yeah. I'm always careful. That just seems like a really crappy and avoidable way to go.

About the pickle fork... I know what it looks like but I have no idea how it's used. It's a prying thing, no?

[EvilTwinATX]

my brother just went thru this... use a combination of pickle fork and a big hammer. but here is the thing... the taper on that is so big that a standard pickle fork is not "thick" enough. We had to use a pickle fork at first and then used an old open-end wrench as a wedge to tighten it up and give us more leverage. Most mechanics will tell you to hit is squarely on the control arm right next to the ball joint to get it to come loose... you have to hit that thing HARD!
It was a b***h for us...good luck!! 

[4Cruizn]

I just had the same problem and was beating the hell out of it trying to get it loose.  After quite some time, I got a light in there and noticed that someone had spotwelded it together!         Once I got rid of the welds, it finally came apart.  Keep at it!   

[PlumCrazy]

Or you could rent the proper tool to do the job.

[Cuda Cody]

There are lots of ball joint removal tools out there.   Are any better than others?

[4Cruizn]

I didn't realize there was sooooo many!   

[tactransman]

This is the one I like !!!!