Ground Control coilovers

[ahriley91]

So I am installing my ground controls and I am trying to take off my strut assembly so I can modify my strut housing. In the process of disconnecting all of the thing attached to it I go to disconnect the strut from the control arm and it will not disconnect. Nothing was working. I tried the BFH method and a pry bar. Absolutely nothing is working. HELP ME PLEASE!!! I am very frustrated so I had to walk away from it for the night and leave it at my friends who is welding the new perch. Quick responses would be fantastic. Thanks!

Adam

[e30s52]

pickle fork.

[Predzy743]

^^ x2

[bataangpinoy]

x3. you will have to do control arms or at least fresh moog press in bushings anywho.

[ahriley91]

x3. you will have to do control arms or at least fresh moog press in bushings anywho.

Yeah, I don't have the parts to do that.

[bmwpower]

Are you reusing the control arms? Sounds like you're not if you're using a BFH to try to remove them. And if that is the case, heat it up with a torch, then smack it.

[RickSloan]

if you are careful with the pickle fork you can save the ball joint. But that is how you need to removed it. Or an air chisel

[ForcedFirebird]

I pry the control arm down with a pinch bar between it and the bottom of strut housing, then hit the strut housing with a hammer - the part where the ball joint stud goes through, not the threaded part where the nut goes on. I try to use pickle forks as a last resort, only because they will damage the dust cover on the ball joint (if they are on good shape lol).

[jlevie]

A ball joint press (heavy duty like the BMW special tool) will remove the most stubborn ball joint stud. If you don't have that, heat (read oxy-acetelyne torch) and a pickle fork will get it off. Though you will need new control arms afterward.

[ahriley91]

Well I am at my car again and I thought I just try using a heat gun. That didn't work of course. It's pissing me off. I don't think that it should be this seized. I'm about to go get a pickle fork.

[UDelaware30]

a heat gun wont put out nearly enough heat
use a propane or acetylene/oxygen torch.
Dont heat up the ball joint bolt because the metal will expand and make it harder to remove the control arm. Heat up the metal on the strut (around the bolt) for a good time with a torch then use the BFH method.
Make sure to put the nut flush on the control arm bolt to avoid trashing the threads.

Good luck, i have had my struts off 3 times in the past year and everytime they seem to be just as stuck as before.

[ahriley91]

Well, I don't have a torch, so that is not gonna work.

[bear]

dont fuck around, hammer and pickle fork, it wont hurt the ball joint and you can buy new dust caps at parts store.

[UDelaware30]

Well, I don't have a torch, so that is not gonna work.

Well theyre about 10 bucks at harbor freight, or any hardware store for that matter.
Come in handy when doing bushing too.

[sarcasmkillsme]

^^^All of you are noobs.^^^

Don't ever use a pickle fork, well, unless you want to ruin the boots.
Just buy this little tool. It makes separating the control arm and tie rods a complete breeze. Seriously, its funny how easy it makes the job.

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