Lower ball joint won't come out, hope someone has the idea that helps me!

Hi all, I'm hoping somebody has an idea for me on how to get this lower ball joint out of the lower control arm.

I'm putting in the toytec ultimate coilovers, and in doing so noticed that my LBJ was leaking a significant amount of fluid, so I grabbed one of the moog replacements off rock auto.

I have the LBJ attachment point to the nuckle separated from the ball joint, but I can't get it out of the Lower control arm.

I removed the retaining ring on the top of the Lower control arm, that holds the LBJ in place.

I've got a OEM tools HD ball joint remover tool - granted it was $50 on Amazon, so not the best one i'm sure - but I bent it tightening it down, and the LBJ didn't budge.

I took a break to think, and thought maybe heat would help, so I heated up the cast piece around the LBJ with a propane torch while it was under pressure from the ball joint tool (caveat -it was already bent at this point, so not putting the forces 100% linear.

Have a decent assortment of tools, impact (both air and battery) but I've reached the end of my ability. Hoping someone here has a lifesaver!

Thanks in advance!!

 

I haven’t done this on a tundra yet, but I have on a 5th gen 4R, which is a similar arrangement. No way those were moving without a hydraulic press. You may need to remove the LCA and go that route to get them out. With the press, it wasn’t bad going out or in.

If you go this route, mark your alignment cams so can put them back the same way, and remember to do your final torque with the wheels bearing the weight of the truck.

 

I used a loaner press from O'Reilly's and an impact. It took a LOT of force to initially move.

 

Thanks, was it a full press with the lower control arm off the truck? or a ball joint press (clamp like ) on the truck?

 

That's what I'm afraid of - its a rust belt truck, and i'm not sure the LCA wants to come off. hoping to not have to get into that...

 

It was a clamp style, here's the post I made.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-07-front-lower-balljoint-replacement.126777/

 

ok great, that gives me hope Thanks for the write-up that is super helpful!

 

Literally just popped mine out last week. The kit from harbor freight will work to push them out but I used the additional hf set and a larger clamp for the installs.

I soaked the ball joints in croil for a day and threw the clamp on, hit her with an impact (pulsed it) and tapped the side of the LCA with a hammer (in hopes the impact from the side would help loosen, probably didn’t). She fought me but she finally popped out. And in good ol truck fashion, the other side was out in 10 min.

 

A torch always works wonders in these situations. Give it a little heat and it'll pop right out.

 

Thanks guys! I ended up changing the torn boot rather than the joint. The grease inside still looked good, so it must not have been torn for long. I didn't feel any play in the ball joint, so I'll run it for a thousand miles and see what it feels like.
Thanks!