Help! Can't break the knuckle free.

[cosmokenney]

I am in the process of replacing the ball joints. I have the ball joint nuts loosened but not removed (there's about 1/8" gap). I've got the axle pulled out. Sprayed with pb blaster. Tried heat. Tried air hammer. Tried two hammers, one held against the knuckle on one side while I hammer on the other. All I am doing it mangling the thing.
Any suggestions?

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[gonzoflick]

Pickle fork

 

[cosmokenney]

Pickle fork

Shoot. That's the one tool I don't have. And in my small town the nearest auto parts store is 40 minutes away and closed on Sunday. I am actually considering cutting them off and using my ball joint press to get the left overs out.

 

[azjl#3]

if you cut, no place to use the pickle when cutting does not work

 

[cosmokenney]

if you cut, no place to use the pickle when cutting does not work

Good point!

 

[azjl#3]

see below, plus, move nut until threads showing on nut, then use a steel something, breaker bar, steel shim, something, and beat the ever living poop out of it, inventing new cuss words.


chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.quadratec.com/sites/default/files/installation_instructions/Teraflex%203452010%20HD%20Ball%20Joints%20JL-JT.pdf

 

[Hercules]

Just keep going with heat and hammers and wd40. Mine eventually gave up and broke free.

 

[Pinion]

If you have a grinder, you can try notching one of the air hammer inserts to work like a pickle fork.

 

[azjl#3]

cant say enough for the knock off induction heater from amazon, I won't need penetrant or a torch again.

 

[Beachcomber72]

Walmart has a pickle fork tool of Chinese nature but in a pinch it works and was only $16. Or if you live in a neighborhood that has a FB group, ask on there and you’ll be surprised what neighbors reach out to you immediately. Hope you get it all sorted out.

 

[cosmokenney]

see below, plus, move nut until threads showing on nut, then use a steel something, breaker bar, steel shim, something, and beat the ever living poop out of it, inventing new cuss words.


chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.quadratec.com/sites/default/files/installation_instructions/Teraflex%203452010%20HD%20Ball%20Joints%20JL-JT.pdf

Ah! Those are the ones I'm installing.

 

[wibornz]

I use a sawzaw, cut the stud off between the knuckle and the axle. Takes about five minutes with a carbide blade. Take the knuckle to the bench and a couple good wacks and the stud will come out of the knuckle. Super easy.

 

[Rangemaster]

When I did my ball joints, the knuckle was the easy part. Getting those ball joints out on my rig was the hardest thing I ever wrenched on. I actually bent my breaker bar with using a large pipe bender handle.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/heavy-duty-ball-joints.111661/#post-2319861

 

[Old Jeeper]

Pickle fork

X2

 

[word302]

How big of a hammer are you using? You need at least a 3 pounder. Pickle fork works good as well.

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