Hey I'm taking off my passenger side UCA and I'm stuck. I can't get the bolt out of the spindle to release the ball joint. I hammered in a cold chisel and it won't budge. I put some heat on it and all it really did was melt what was left of the boot. Any advice would be appreciated.
Need help with UCA asap
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Kstills
Dedicated LVC Member
PB Blaster and time.....
Mine was frozen at first, but I kept worrying at it with a pry bar until it let loose.
87TTOPGT420
Dedicated LVC Member
i generally turn the spindle so the bolt is facing out and smash it with a big ass hammer....it will come out...bolt will need to be replaced, but it will come out...then when reinstalling...anti seize is your friend
also an air chisel can work as well....
also an air chisel can work as well....
topher5150
Dedicated LVC Member
what about a pickle fork on an air hammer
87TTOPGT420
Dedicated LVC Member
i think hes talking about the pinch bolt that almost always seizes
once the bolt is out...take a hammer and hit the underside of the control arm and balljoint will pop right out of spindle
once the bolt is out...take a hammer and hit the underside of the control arm and balljoint will pop right out of spindle
chicken
SHEOOOOOOOOT
also try to pry down slightly on the joint releasing the pressure
Roadboss
Dedicated LVC Member
Have you got both front wheels off the ground and on jack stands?
Alright I've been trying to no avail. I sprayed a full can of pb onto it and I'm gonna let it sit for a while (since I have to go to work). Thanks for the advice, hopefully I should be able to pop it off tomorrow morning.
Damn ninja'd me, yes I have both off the ground.
Sapperfire
Dedicated LVC Member
The ball joint will NEVER pop out of the "spindle" it pops out of the knuckle
They are the same thing.
94m5
Dmaup's Daddy
A big effin hammer is your friend.
laserp viii
Well-Known LVC Member
they are a real pita been there lol.
87TTOPGT420
Dedicated LVC Member
if the balljoint is about to fall out then yeah i could see it popping out of hte control arm....but usually once pinch bolt is out, a couple swings with the hammer from the bottom of the control arm and they pop right out of the spindle errr knuckle lol
Thats not what he was saying. He was saying its not called a spindle that its called a knuckle. He is saying the spindle is the part that the hub goes over which is kinda right I guess. Knuckle/spindle are both acceptable terms IMHO.
Take a 5 pound handheld sledgehammer and smack the bejesus out of the upper control arm where the bolt is pinching.
Also, did you release the air out of the strut? If not, pop the ride height sensors, then pop the solenoid clip and then turn the solenoid so that it pops out. The air will hiss out and the strut will go flaccid.
Also, did you release the air out of the strut? If not, pop the ride height sensors, then pop the solenoid clip and then turn the solenoid so that it pops out. The air will hiss out and the strut will go flaccid.
Hey guys, back from work. Just read everyone's suggestions to prep me for tomorrow mornings next try. A little misunderstanding I'm noticing. I haven't even tried to get the ball joint out yet, as I still haven't been able to move the bolt holding the spindle shut. I got the nut off of it but I can't get the bolt out. I'll try again tomorrow, thanks for all the advice so far.
Put the nut back onto the bolt and tighten it just to the point where the bolt is flush with the nut. That way you will have a few threads in between the spindle clamp and the nut. Then bash the hell out of the nut. Since the nut is in place, the threads on the bolt won't get damaged. That should knock it loose. This is the bolt with the square head on it that is retained by the spindle with that lip, right?
Correct, it is that bolt. I was hitting it with a hammer for quite some time today with no luck, hopefully after sitting overnight with the pb blaster I'll have better luck.
Jeffintampa
Dedicated LVC Member
I had the same issues. by lubing up the whole area, and putting the nut on to hit with and hammer. finally came off. now to get the upper control arm out of that I had to have the wife pulling on a crow bar while I hit and hit and hit the control arm from the bottom and top finally it popped out
Well, been beating the hell out of the bolt for the last 3 hours.... it hasn't budged. Drove a 3/4 in. chisel to the other side with little effect. Heated and lubed again with no luck. Any other ideas?
Kstills
Dedicated LVC Member
Pull the spindle, brace it real well on the ground, and get a running start with a 5 pound sledge hammer....
