Removing strut housing to LCA ball joint.

[Panici]

The spring perch on my E30 is rusted through.
So I'm pulling the strut assembly from my parts car.

How do I separate the strut assembly from the Lower control arm? I've tried a pickle fork and hammer, and all I've done is tear up the boot. (I don't care about the boot on the parts car, but I don't want to damage the boot on my good car)

Help!

[ForcedFirebird]

Pickle forks are for the birds. Get one of these from Harbor Freight. Best $20 you will ever spend. Just make sure you use a wrench and not an impact of any kind, or you will be buying one every time you use it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html

[enigmaticdream]

Or spent $38 and get one that can handle impact guns and multiple uses. I've had mine for about 4-5 years and it has been used well over 20 times.

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-6297-Ball-Joint-Separator/dp/B0015PN010/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1408408407&sr=8-8&keywords=tie+rod+tool

I've had the control arm not come out though and had to resort to a metal hammer against the housing. It eventually separated, but damaged the strut housing. You could probably use a brass hammer to accomplish the same thing.

[Panici]

That tool did the trick.

Although the one I found locally cost me $60.


Next question. The good car has what looks like a wheel speed sensor. The strut I pulled from the parts car does not.

What is this for? Auto trans? ABS?

What will happen without a functioning sensor?

[kronus]

yes, it's ABS

without it your ABS won't work