Spindle removal
 

I started on my lift late yesterday afternoon. I only got the pass. side started and am having a difficult time getting the spindle off the lower balljoint. Everything is disconnected from the stock one w/exception of the lower. What is the best way to get it off. I sprayed some penetrating oil on it and whacked it on the top of the spindlem where the upper balljoint goes trying to knock it off. Is this the way to do it or is there another way or easier one?

haha my passenger side lower ball joint was so jammed on there i actually cut it off with a recipro. saw haha. Are you using a ball joint remover fork? that might help

I had the same problem. It didn't come off just hitting it for me.

I went to discount auto parts and rented a "front end tool kit" which has a pitman arm puller, ball joint press, and some other misc. things.

Use the pitman arm puller and wrap it around the top of the spindle. Put the compression screw at the botttom of the b.j. then just torque it down. It will be a LOUD pop when it comes off, and whatch out, when that spindle falls, it's pretty heavy.

Edit: Don't use a ball joint fork, it will TEAR your boots to shreds unless you do it properly (which we can't with our ball joints, there isn't enough boot play)

Thanks. I've had my spindles for a while and have been waiting to put them on and I couldn't get the spindle all the way off and it really pisses me off. The swap is really easy but frustrating getting it apart. I'm about to head back over to the guy's house where my truck is at and hopefully I can finish the front and rear today. I can't wait to see what it will look like. I forgot to take before pics.

Yea, mine took like 8hrs...PITA but if I had to do it again, it would take me half our each side. Seriously it's too easy, you just have to have the right tools!!!

Yeah. I just thought about using a bottle jack when I do the drivers side. I'll put the bottle jack between the control arms and try to pop the lower loose then do the upper last.

It's even faster when you know exactly what size sockets etc. it takes to do the job.

Yes it is!!!

Don't use a jack, you might damage the UCA or LCA. Just lightly tap the upper ball joint and it will come right out..I've done 2 rangers uppers now and both were like that.

yea a pickle fork on dont do it that boot wont know what hit it.

It finally came off. I took an even bigger hammer and with a few more whacks, it came off. Big problem though! Work came to a halt on friday afternoon because when I was bolting on the caliper, the sleeve that the bolt bolts in on the bracket or mount stripped out. It looks like it has been machined out and is all nice and shiney. Nobody has it and I guess I have to check w/ford and see if I can get it. So I'm at a stand still until at least mon. morning. To add insult to injury, the hole that you use to screw the abs sensor to the spindle was covered up, so I had to waste time fixing that. For such an easy project, it sure is one thing after another.