HELP, my car is on jack stands

**gnat** · 01-05-2008, 07:45 PM

I attempted to swap out to an SRT suspension today but we couldn't break loose the ball joints. I got a pickle fork from Autozone but it isn't big enough to split the ball joint. Does anyone in the Austin area have a larger pickle fork?

I got things apart but now I can't put anything back together. My car is out front on stands with the wheels off.

Please can anyone help?

**cbloveday** · 01-05-2008, 07:48 PM

Reminds me of the time, my little one got coins stuck in the all on one tv/cd player and I took it apart and then couldn't put it back together. Sucks

**Super T** · 01-05-2008, 07:49 PM

autozone rents tools, you get the money back when you return the tool...

**gnat** · 01-05-2008, 08:34 PM

I rented a pickle fork and a pitman arm puller from Autozone. the pickle fork didn't work and the puller looked like someone had shaved the arms back and it wouldn't fit.

**Hemi31** · 01-05-2008, 08:43 PM

Screw the pickle fork.....that'll just mess up the boot.......put a jack just under the control arm so there is about a 1/4" space......loosen the ball joint nut almost all the way off...keep it on a few threads....Now get a 5lb hammer and smack that flat spot on the spindle as hard as you can.....a few shots and the joint will pop out of the spindle.....then just remove the nut and lower the jack.

**gnat** · 01-05-2008, 08:52 PM

is it the flat spot on the front of the spindle?

**Hemi31** · 01-05-2008, 09:11 PM

right where the ball joint stud goes through......that flat spot.

**gnat** · 01-05-2008, 09:17 PM

too dark tonight, I'll try that tomorrow morning.

**Apache** · 01-06-2008, 12:08 AM

Just be carefull when you lower the jack, SLOW is the key, the spring may pop and can go anywhere. For safety reasons, may want to put a strap/chain or something to secure the coil before you lower that jack. I just did this with my 64 GMC truck. As Hemi31 said, the pickle fork will or may damage your rubber boot, but if you are replacing it, then don't worry about it. Good luck and if you need more help, post back up.

Mike

**ephines** · 01-06-2008, 02:28 AM

If you got a good tie down strap or rope you could pull the spindle and arm down just enough to pull the bottom of the shock out.

You need to leave the rear most nut on top loose(like two turns left) and you would put a knee in the strap that you have attached to the top of the A-arm (holes on the side of the ball joint). The whole assembly needs to go down about a half an inch to pull the bottom of the shock out towards the rear with the wheels straight. You will need some muscle but much. I've done 4 magnums this way with no problems.

**gnat** · 01-06-2008, 11:34 AM

I had someone standing on the brake rotor and we still couldn't get enough room to get the bottom of the shock out.

I either need to separate the ball joint of find a way to compress the strut a little.

**Apache** · 01-06-2008, 12:29 PM

What about spring compressors? You can borrow those from Autozone as well or Harbor Frieght tools has them as well as a larger pickle fork. Good luck.

**gnat** · 01-06-2008, 04:38 PM

smacking the spindle worked. I never would have thought of that. so after all of this I still don't have the suspension swapped. but at least now I know how not to do it. I am going to wait till later to attempt this again.