Need to remove lower control arm ball joint

Post by **trajanH** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:31 pm

I need to remove the lower control arm ball joint on my 97 q45 and want to know what tool is best to remove it?
I have been to Auto Zone but there tie rod removal tool is too big to fit in the small space where the strut assembly connects to the lower control arm. The service manual uses the same tie rod tool to remove the tie rod and the ball joint but i cant find that tool at auto zone and i am not sure where to find it. Also the service manual does not show the strut assembly in the diagrams so i am not sure about that.
I am using a pitman ball joint separator now but it does not seem to be working and it destroyed the ball joint itself.
So i wonder when i do get the ball joint separated from the strut assembly can i just replace it with a new one or do I have to get a whole new lower control arm?

Post by **maxnix** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:43 am

I think Infiniti sells the whole thing as a unit. Someone did post a breakdown, but it is labor intensive if I remember correctly.

Post by **paranoidjack** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:15 pm

The ball joint and lower control arm is one unit. Not meant for remove/installation. Replace the whole arm.

Post by **trajanH** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:18 pm

Ok. So how do i get the ball joint off? What tool are you guys using to knock the ball joint out before i get screwed by Nissan parts and buy a whole new lower control arm for $250?

Post by **paranoidjack** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 5:42 pm

Allow me to copy and paste my previous post for you:

The ball joint and lower control arm is one unit. Not meant for remove/installation. Replace the whole arm.

Post by **trajanH** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 6:29 pm

I was talking about removing the ball joint from the strut assembly so that i can change the lower control arm.
Just want to know what ball joint removal tool you used. I cant get a sledge hammer to hit on top of the ball joint and remove it that way because the strut assembly is attached and there is no space. I tried a ball joint separator tool from Auto Zone with no success.

im now trying to buy a ball joint removal tool and just want to make sure i get the correct tool.

Post by **maxnix** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:16 am

If I recall correctly, the strut housing and lower control arm just unbolts as one assembly.

Post by **paranoidjack** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:52 am

From the FSM:

Puller...pickle fork....beat it up! Never easy to get out, just beat on it (carefully).

Post by **trajanH** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:59 pm

im looking to buy a a tool right now with the dimensions of the pitman puller in the FSM. When i find it I will let you all know. That one tool can save people a lot of money in fixing their FY33 suspensions. I did not have to destroy the lower control arm ball joint with a fork. Would have saved me 250 bucks if I could find the simple 30 buck tool.

Post by **1st_Infiniti** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:48 am

Here are a few videos from YouTube as I found them very insightful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTaOfP7nwc&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpI6J_97 ... re=related

And here are some other tools listed on eBay for your reference:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_trkparms=6 ... 513&_pgn=1

Hope this helps as I just found out this info for my strut replacement job. Good luck!

David

Need to remove lower control arm ball joint

Need to remove lower control arm ball joint

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Re: Need to remove lower control arm ball joint

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Re: Need to remove lower control arm ball joint

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