Thread: Ball Joint Removal on 1968 Chevy Truck

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Hiya fellow automotive nuts! I am currently working an a 1968 Chevy Pickup and have managed to tear this sucker down to frame. All that remains on said frame is the front suspension sans a few pieces I have been able to remove.

That being said, I am having a dickens of a time seperating the ball joints from the steering knuckles on the spindle. There seem to be three methods that are usually recommended for this sort of thing and all have failed for me. I have tried the "beat the knuckle with a hammer" approach to no avail. A pickle fork actually cracked and broke whilst attempting to seperate the lower ball joint - I know pickle forks suck, but I was getting desperate. My final option seems to be to use a specialty tool such as the GM J-26407, but where to find one? Any ideas folks would be helpful. Oh yes, JC Whitney has a jaw type tool that might fit the bill for this. If anyone has used one and they are not a waste of money please let me know. Thanks!

You may try a little heat. I usualy get them off with a pickle fork with air hammer. I hope you have the tension off the spring.

Damn that sucker stuck,They usually are!Usually whats needed on these trucks is every method you can get at it .The spring method and the pickle fork method at the same time,maybe some heat..First thing is to get a chain and loop it through the spring and bottom control arm ,leave a slack in the chain.The chain is so this thing doesn't pop out and kill you. If your lucky you would just loose your teeth.Also use some jack stands under the frame.Loosen up the castle nut on the upper and lower ball joints until you see 1/8" gap between the nut and spindle.Then get your pickle fork and go to town on them bastards.What you want to do is let the tension from the spring help you break the ball joints lose.