Ball Joints

[silicon_bronco]

Hi all...

Well I have been working on replacing my ball joints and I have a question.

After fighting with one of the spindle nuts, I finely was abel to remove it but the spindle is rusted

to the knuckle and will not come off. I have sprayed it with PB Blaster and tried everything I can think of to remove it and no go.. I have not tried to hit it from the back as there is not much room to get at it because the kuckel is covering most of the spindle area. Any thoughts on this of how I could go about removing the spindle?

Also when I do finely remove the spindle will the drive assembly pull through the knuckle opening ?

It looks to big to fit and I don't want to remove the u-joint if I do not have to.

here are some pic's of the job at hand..

 

[BLADE262US]

Hello I usually put one or both of the nuts back on and then smack it with a rubber deadblow hammer and that usually gets it started coming off then once theres a gap in the top side Ill stick a screwdriver in the gap and whack it from the underside and they will usually come off after that and yes the axle shaft will slide out of that hole once the spindle is off . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[silicon_bronco]

I did not think this posted as my browser quit on me..

So I posted a new one sorry..

 

[ocalabronco]

whack it with a BFH. had to do that on the 22 yr old dana 44. just make sure you put the spindle nuts back on so you dont ***** the threads

 

[silicon_bronco]

Well today I tried the rubber mallet and no go, I mean I whacked the F out of it and nothing...

What would a shop mechanic do to it if he/she could not remove the spindle with a rubber mallet or any other conventional tools..?

I know you should not heat the spindle, but would this help?

I mean this spindle is fused to the knuckle in a bad way. I know I am not the only one who has had to go through this and I don't want to give up as of yet, but this is starting to get to me... /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> (

what is a BFH ?

thanks every one...

 

[BLADE262US]

LOL a BFH is BIG ****** HAMMER anyway you may be to the point of no return with this one so I would get another set of axle nuts cause your goona wreck them , Now use a real BFH steel sledge not like a 4' long one or anything like that but a small one and whack it with that try straight down then up then to the sides to get it loosened up in the spindle housing . Ya gotta do what ya gotta do at this point . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[ocalabronco]

like blade said, pick up a spare set. i was fortunate enough to have a set from my TTB when i was doing the SAS, so i beat the shit out of it. ended up breaking one of the nuts. just use a sledge and put some balls behind it

 

[silicon_bronco]

So you are saying that I should hit the spindle or the spindle ****** next the the knuckle?

If I start to hit the spindle with a metal BFH, I will most likely damage the spindle bering race area. I have the nut's off already. I see what you are saying about being at the point of no return.

Maybe I should pick up two new spindles and be ready to beat the f'ing crap out of the ones I have on now and if they do get f-up I have a new set to put back on ?

Thanks again all.

 

[ocalabronco]

your not listening. thread the spindle nuts (the ones that hold the bearings on) back onto the spindle "shaft". hit the spindle nuts with the BFH, not the smooth section where the bearings ride. think about leverage. the farther away the impact is on a long tube, the more downward force is exerted at the base, which in your case is stuck. this is why we use breaker and cheater bars with socket wrenches

 

[silicon_bronco]

AAAAAAA I see now.. Just had to re-read what BLADE262US and you had to say..

I was thinking you all where talking about the nut's that hold the spindle to the knuckle..

My bad, and you where right I was not listening. :mellow:

Well I will have to go at it tomorrow as it is raining and I am doing this work out side. I do not have a garaged @ this place that I am renting.... /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> :angry:

thanks....

 

[silicon_bronco]

O YA ! I got the spindle loosened, but now I have another problem.

The speed sensor bolt that is on the back of the knuckle what size is it if any of you know..

I know that it is not a 6mm as that is to small and it is not a 7mm as this is to large.

A 1/4 is to large as well. Is this a special size that ford came up with?

thanks again Ocalabronco and BLADE262US for your help.. /

 

[ocalabronco]

just use an adjustable. ford likes to use screwy bolts that metric or SAE dont like to fit