My Control Arm is stuck to the strut housing.

[WlknGenius]

I've heard a few people say that disconnecting the control arm from the strut housing when doing suspension can be a bitch, but I'm having a really hard time. The tie rods are also proving difficult.

So far I've tried hitting the crap out of the strut housing and the control arm with my rubber mallet. I tried using a universal puller, but that didn't work. I rented a tie rod puller from autozone, but I can't get that to fit on anything.

Does anyone know a surefire way to get this done? I remember searching and seeing a thread where someone pointed out a puller that does fit for this job, but I have no idea how to get one. I want the next time I try to be the last time.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Mike325]

Pickel forks work good. Mine were a bitch too. Try not to hurt the boot of the ball joint unless you are replacing it.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

get a jack and place it under the strut housing and lift it up this will make getting the tierod out easier....then get some pb blaster give it a couple sprays then put the nut back on top of the tierod and screw it down just a little bit, then go to turn whacking that..u don't want to hit the top of the tierod itself b/c u may flatten it to where it won't come out of the housing and then you're really fucked....i replaced my control arms over the summer and it was kind of a bitch getting them out...have u loosened the inner ball joints? those are a major pain in the ass, esp the passenger side

[KenC]

don't use a rubber mallet, you want a slegehammer of some sort. you really need to knock it loose. and yes, you'll probably want to get some spare nuts that you can screw a few threads down and then beat on from the top.

[WlknGenius]

get a jack and place it under the strut housing and lift it up this will make getting the tierod out easier....then get some pb blaster give it a couple sprays then put the nut back on top of the tierod and screw it down just a little bit, then go to turn whacking that..u don't want to hit the top of the tierod itself b/c u may flatten it to where it won't come out of the housing and then you're really fucked....i replaced my control arms over the summer and it was kind of a bitch getting them out...have u loosened the inner ball joints? those are a major pain in the ass, esp the passenger side

I did not know you would want to loosen the inner ball joint. How would you do that?

Does anyone know what the thread size on those bolts too? Or even the thread sizes on the tie rods?

[mrsleeve]

OTC low profile ball joint press!

[StereoInstaller1]

Hit the control arm on the side, where the ball joint spindle passes through the control arm. Use a small sledge, about 6 to 8 pounds. Smack it with some decent force, but with a "snap" to the swing, like you are trying to make the hammer "pop".

Use a crowbar to apply upwards pressure if necessary, while whacking.

Generally, it takes me about 4 to 6 whacks...

Luke

[E30trash]

Hit the control arm on the side, where the ball joint spindle passes through the control arm. Use a small sledge, about 6 to 8 pounds. Smack it with some decent force, but with a "snap" to the swing, like you are trying to make the hammer "pop".

Use a crowbar to apply upwards pressure if necessary, while whacking.

Generally, it takes me about 4 to 6 whacks...

Luke

I had the suspension from hell... Nick helped me out. 4 whacks at the side of the joint itself, then one-two good soft strikes from the nut, and they both fell within one minute. Controls arms are very strong, keep that in mind

[Axxe]

The best way I've found is to use a small 12oz hammer, place it where you want all the impact to go (the strut where the ball joint fits through), and proceed to give a half dozen good whacks. Then tap a nut that is threaded on top of the ball joint with the 12oz. Repeat until it comes out. I love my air hammer the most, point, zap, *pop*, done.

[browntown]

Use a small sledge, about 6 to 8 pounds.

that one bigass "small" sledge. my 2 and 3 pounders are about all I want to wield one handed. I'm a wimp though.


pickle fork on impact hammer is great, *expect* to rip the boot. you might as well replace your tie rods when you're replacing the control arms.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

I did not know you would want to loosen the inner ball joint. How would you do that?

Does anyone know what the thread size on those bolts too? Or even the thread sizes on the tie rods?

the nut for the CA is either a 15 or 17mm...if u loosen the inner Ball joint and give that a few whacks, then lift up on the strut housing it'll make it easier to come out...the control arm is only held by ball joints, the C.A.B is mounts to the body and the C.A slips through that...the inner b.js *hehe I said bjs :p * go through the subframe, be warned the passenger side is a bitch to do b/c the exhaust manifolds get in the way

[emi325i]

Get an impact chisel with the pointy tip.. it'll come out in 5 seconds.