So I am dropping my 59 ford, I've got the blocks in properly in the back and I have started the process of taking apart the front end to cut the springs, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get the damned ball joints to pop. I have already broken two pickle forks, possibly my thumb, I've whacked everything in sight, and tried cranking on stuff. I don't know what to do. Does anyone have ant advice for sticky ball joints?
I strike the side of the boss where the ball joint goes through. Use a dead blow! Also add some heat to the boss.
KJSR is right, but I prefer a heavy steel hammer. The dead blows lose too much impact, I believe. Also, Have someone try to pry apart the joint/arm while you strike the boss. I've never failed to get one apart in this manner.
The springs are still place, right? I use a 3-pound FT and put a 2nd one on the other side of the spindle and pound away. just make sure you have just loosened the joint's nut so that it can't pop off and let the spring fly because a loose spring can kill you! If this doesn't do it, then make a "ball-joint pusher" out of a short piece a 1/2" pipe and a couple of 1/2" bolts and nuts. Easy to do, and it will do the job!! pdq67
Thats what I do on all the customer cars I tear down. One 3lb drilling hammer held on one side of the knuckle(spindle) boss as an anvle(sp?) and a couple good sharp blows on the other side with a 32oz ballpeen and it should pop apart pretty easy. What you are doing is causing the boss to compress and expand slightly, pushing out the tapered shaft of the BJ.
So I wanted to replace the ball joints on my 59. Moog doesn't make lower ball joints for it. nobody does except for this company called Rare Parts. The only problem is they want $125 apiece for them! The price being so outrageous I swallowed my pride and looked on ebay. I didn't find any ball joints but I found a couple of NOS ball joint repair kits. the only problem with them is now that i have them, I need to dismantle the old ball joints. I need help. these are really tricky, they are like pressed together and now I have to take off the bottom plate and replace it with this adjustable plate. Help!
reviving an old thread here. I found upper ball joints for cheap but not the lower. Did you find an alternative source?
Found lower ball joints from c&g ford parts for $55 ea, ordered some today Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
dennis carpenter has upper ball joints for $25 each and lowers for $50 each: http://www.dennis-carpenter.com/ mac's has them for a little more and offers a standard and heavy duty upper ball joint: http://macsautoparts.com/search.asp?sb=0&ls=y&camid=F50&year=1959&make=Ford&ss=ball+joint&x=0&y=0 concours parts has them also: http://www.concoursparts.com/
I ordered my upper ball joints from Rockauto with a bunch of other stuff, they were only $10/ea No such luck with the lowers Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
Just thought I would add in. Whenever I have this issue. I take an old rear axle, just the axle, and hit with that. I life the car so the spring has a load on it but will not fly out when loose, and hold the shaft in had and hit the area around where the ball joint goes in. I hit with the tapered part. Basically holding the axle in both hands, and fit the flat end of the circle into the metal around the ball joint(not the A arm). Works every time, sometimes takes a few hits, but as long as there is a load pressing on it., it will let go.
Forgot to mention, it works for steering linkages also. Sometimes the part on the pitman arm is facing downward, so I use an old bumper jack and put a small load on it. Then hit it and it will come loose. Done this on many 59 Fords.
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