Can I easily break/cut a ball joint?

[idosubaru]

I was pulling the front hub off of a parts car for a friend that lost a front wheel bearing. the pinch bolt for the ball joint sheared off instantly, never moved.

 

This being a parts car I can mangle the control arm or ball joint all I want. I'd like to get it out of the car to have that bolt extracted.

 

Will I be able to cut the control arm (sawzall) or smash/cut the ball joint?

[backwoodsboy]

Might be easier to unbolt the arm on the inboard side where it bolts to the x-member?

 

Should that prove near-impossible, it is do-able to cut through the lower control arm.

[idosubaru]

Might be easier to unbolt the arm

oh right, good call BWB - i don't think those bolts are coming out. they look like they been marinated in rust for quite some time!

 

so you've cut a ball joint before? sawzall and some fresh blades? 2 minutes or 30 (it's about to start snowing, this should be fun!).

[backwoodsboy]

If youve got good quality rust going on, then the lower control ARM should cut through fairly easily.

 

Cut slowly and soak the area with the spray lubricant of your choice AS you cut. (save your blade)

 

Cutting through the ARM should be a 10 -15 minute easy job

 

Cutting through the HARDENED ball joint... not so much of a good idea. :-\

[johnceggleston]

if you don't need the ball joint, i would think a big crowbar would separate the arm from the knuckle, castle nut should be pretty easy to split, then just pry away. easier from under the car, but....

[Bucky92]

What timing Gary..I have to do the same thing to my Lego...trashed a wheel bearing playing in the mud...Got to follow this cause ...even though the donor came off decent from the JY..that means with my luck...the one on my Lego will do what your did.

[idosubaru]

oh right, separating the ball joint from the control arm...i think that nut is already off and sweet momma with my pickle fork that should come right out? thanks JCE!!!! as a last resort i have an enormous digging bar that weighs like 2 tons, that should at least be fun. maybe i'll start without just to exert some energy.

 

BWB - just my luck the control are is actually pristine, it's the bolts that are horrid. so no luck with cutting through easily rusted control arm. but that's what i was wondering - which would be easier, arm or ball joint, arm it is if it comes to that.

 

if yours looks suspicious connie, i hit mine with penetrant a few minutes before trying, if you have time and think about it i'd hit it a few days in a row up to a week or so before tackling the job. torch the area if you got one. then work the head bolt back and forth just a few degrees before actually trying to remove it.

[johnceggleston]

What timing Gary..I have to do the same thing to my Lego...trashed a wheel bearing playing in the mud...Got to follow this cause ...even though the donor came off decent from the JY..that means with my luck...the one on my Lego will do what your did.

 

start dosing it now with pblaster, everyday.

 

i had one off a fla car 125k miles that wouldn't budge, started to, break. (that's when i started removing the castle nut and leaving the pinch bolt alone.)

i had one with 142K that started in vermont, but mostly nc, it came right out, go figure. (the torn outer boot had been lubing it for several months.)

Edited April 6, 2009 by johnceggleston