Front strut / control arm removal

[asubimmer]

I'm tryin to take off my front struts b/c I am putting on some bilstein sports. I removed the tierod ends but the conrtol arms aren't wanting to come out. Yes I took the nut off :D

So I've shot a ton of wd40 on there, and hit it w/ a hammer for who knows how long. Any advice?

[E30Driv3R]

well dont hit it with a hammer unless it is a rubber mallet.... i learned that the hard way messed up the threads then had to re thread... tryout some PB Blaster on it, let it sit for a wile (The longer the better) and then try a few wacks with a rubber mallet

[asubimmer]

yeah I tried 2 diff rubber mallets, one of those cheapo solid ones and a dead blow.

[Mr Deagle]

air hammer ftmfw

i left the nut on a little, and beat the crap out of that with the air hammer, and it came off

[Febi Guibo]

ye olde pickle fork!

also I find leaving the tie rod on, and removing the control arm first helps a bit...

[Mike325]

Pickle forks are good, but they tend to rip the ball joint boots.

[asubimmer]

the forks sure do but I reaplaced the tierod's and all the ball joints anyway ;)

[backtrail69]

ball joint puller...??

Like this:

[etxxz]

ball joint puller...??

Like this:

You can rent this for *free* at Advance Auto Parts (front end service kit)
Or you can leave the nut about flush with the top of the screw (a little below since the control arm screw has a bit of threadless on the top and you want to concerve the nut), twist the strut clockwise so that you have a perfect shot (tie it with a zip tie if you must) and hammer it like a man...i just did it two days ago

if you mess the nut by hitting at an angle well that's too bad, you can get anotherone for mad cheap.

ye olde pickle fork!



also I find leaving the tie rod on, and removing the control arm first helps a bit...

...never use this unless you must 'cause it sucks having to replace ball joints