2002 Chevrolet S-10 Upper Ball Joint

CHECKMYTRICK

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET S-10
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

I was driving and the crown nut that holds my lower ball joint to the knuckle I think its called, fell off. I decided to replace both the upper and lower ball joint. I removed everything down to the back plate. When I tried to remove the upper ball join I pulled out the cotter pin and unscrewed the crown nut. When I tried to removed the ball joint from where it connects to the wheel assembly it wouldn't budge. I tried cleaning it, putting pressure on different areas, using a hammer. Nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

They have a pickle fork that is a wedge shaped fork that you tap in between the ball joint and the spindle that breaks it free. They rent them at auto zone also make sure you have a floor jack under the lower control arm when you break it free. Watch the coil spring its under extreme pressure and you want to use the jack to control the release of the pressure of the coil spring.