well we are trying to get my truck apart in order to swap out the front diff. We ran into a brickwall. We can't get this apart. How do you get it apart? Or how do we do it different to get the diff out?

 

zacbeard told me how a while ago, dont know what thread anymore.

your picture looks like you cant get the BJ out, run down to the local parts store and rent/barrow the ball joint seperator

you have to take the upper ball joint apart/out
brake caliper off
then the rotor

pop the passenger side CV shaft out, i used one of those ball joint forks

then there are 3 bolts that you have to take out..

 

oh and take the nuts off that are holding the shock to the lower control arm

 

take a small sledge and hit upwards on the underside of the control arm

should pop it out

 

that would work too lol

 

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=29506

 

a balljoint/tierod seperator (big fork) risk the chance to ruining the balljoint/tierod itself

 

Usually I tap on the spindle with a hammer...the ball joint is bigger than the spindle opening, so it "should" pop out. It works for me.

Try hitting a sledge on the UCA though, thats hwat we had to do for Kev's truck

 

Well we (Winks and I) ended up getting it apart and getting the diff out without much difficulty after get the UCA separated from the spindle. A FORK and a 3LB Sledge got the job done. Unfortunately the boot got torn on the drivers side so I will need a new upper ball joint.

 

shame. all parts on the front end can usualy be detached by hitting the maing part its attached to. for eample, hit the area of the spindle where the ball joint is a few times, and it will pop out, same for the tie-rod on the front of the spindle and such. a fork is rarely needed. they usually cause more damage then its worth.

 

I don't think we would have gotten it off without the fork. I was wailing on it with a hammer before we used the fork and we had little to no movement after the for it came apart fairly easy.

 

How long will my ball joint last with the boot sliced. that is really the only damage. could I drive it for a week and then fix it?

The only reason is I doubt I can get ball joints today.

 

you can also stick a flat chisel in the back side of the two ends and spread it a little. but at least you got it out.

 

mine has been sliced for a while.. just not bad..

wait until you can hear or notice it?