Separating Ball Joint Help - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

H-Town Schmit · 07-21-2023, 04:44 PM

Hey Guys! I'm brand new to the forum, but need some help.

I bought a 2014 LT about 2 months ago that I have been fixing up. Car is in great shape, but lots of little things that got neglected by the teenager that had it for 2 years before me. Getting the ride smoothed out has been a challenge, but I just about have it where I want it. Replacing the front lower control arms should be my last project for a while, which brings me to my question.

I got the bolts loosened a few days ago on the front lower control arms (forward facing LCAs), but I am having trouble getting the ball joint separated from the knuckle. I'm not a pro, but this isn't my first rodeo either. Anyway, started out with some whacks with the hammer but didn't get anywhere. Was getting to the point where I was feeling guilty beating on it. Tried a pickle fork today and was shocked that I didn't get anywhere with that either.

Anybody have any tricks or suggestions on this? The only other thing I can think of would be to rent a ball joint separator from O'Reily and give that a shot. It shouldn't be this hard though. Any advice? Thanks.

H-Town Schmit · 07-22-2023, 05:48 AM

Another thing that has me curious is that there are 1A Auto videos for all the different control arms jobs The videos are listed for 2010-2015 V6 Camaros. Except for the front forward control arm video, which is what I’m doing, and are listed as for 2010-2013 Camaros. My Haynes manual doesn’t differentiate between 5th Gen years for this job.

Has me wondering if there is a different step or the job is more difficult for 2014+. I’m grasping for straws in frustration I guess.

Leo72793 · 07-22-2023, 08:44 AM

punch and hammer while using support on the knuckle.

ball joint separation tool (Rainman repairs on YT shows how to use it in a few videos)

use a jam nut style setup and an impact gun to jar it loose

Air punch on the stud of the ball joint?

H-Town Schmit · 07-22-2023, 11:31 AM

Thank you Leo. Forgot to mention I tried the air punch to the stud to no avail. I want to wrap this up today, so think renting a separator is next best option. I think OReily has the jam nut style you mentioned below. Think it’s either a Lisse or OEM.

H-Town Schmit · 07-22-2023, 03:24 PM

I got them. Jeez. Once I realized the videos I was watching were geared towards not damaging the control arm on removal (which I wasn’t worried about as I had replacements), I just started air hammering the control arm itself from any angle I could get to including the stud. Eventually they popped free.

Ck1984 · 07-22-2023, 09:56 PM

for next time just use a small propane torch to heat up the metal where BJ is pressed into.

my last BJ changeon a 2005 low km mercedes, took alot of sledgehammer whacks, maybe a 100 that did NOTHING!
even tried renting a compression tool but wasnt compatible with MB.

then after 40 secs of propane heat 3 whacks and it popped right out

H-Town Schmit · 07-24-2023, 12:38 PM

I will keep that in mind when I do the rear facing front control arms. Thanks!

07-21-2023, 04:44 PM	#1
H-Town Schmit Drives: Camaro LT Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Separating Ball Joint Help Hey Guys! I'm brand new to the forum, but need some help. I bought a 2014 LT about 2 months ago that I have been fixing up. Car is in great shape, but lots of little things that got neglected by the teenager that had it for 2 years before me. Getting the ride smoothed out has been a challenge, but I just about have it where I want it. Replacing the front lower control arms should be my last project for a while, which brings me to my question. I got the bolts loosened a few days ago on the front lower control arms (forward facing LCAs), but I am having trouble getting the ball joint separated from the knuckle. I'm not a pro, but this isn't my first rodeo either. Anyway, started out with some whacks with the hammer but didn't get anywhere. Was getting to the point where I was feeling guilty beating on it. Tried a pickle fork today and was shocked that I didn't get anywhere with that either. Anybody have any tricks or suggestions on this? The only other thing I can think of would be to rent a ball joint separator from O'Reily and give that a shot. It shouldn't be this hard though. Any advice? Thanks.

07-22-2023, 08:44 AM	#3
Leo72793 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,220	punch and hammer while using support on the knuckle. ball joint separation tool (Rainman repairs on YT shows how to use it in a few videos) use a jam nut style setup and an impact gun to jar it loose Air punch on the stud of the ball joint? __________________ •2011 Camaro SS 2SS/RS A6 •MRR M017 1le Replica Wheels •Vararam Ram Air Intake •Speed Engineering Longtube Headers w/ Magnaflow HF Cats •Bo White PnP Stage 2 TB •GPI SS2 VVT Cam w Cometic thin gaskets 10.69 compression •Xpipe w/ Res Delete and NPP Exhaust •Tuned By Anonymous Calibrations •Gen5DIY Mylink Conversion W/ Backup Cam •Morel 3 way custom speakers, Infinity 860w Subwoofers in trunk baffle •Helix P6 6ch amp w/ 8ch DSP and P1 Sub amp

07-22-2023, 09:56 PM	#6
Ck1984 Drives: 2015 camaro LFX V6 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: saskatoon Posts: 137 View My Garage	for next time just use a small propane torch to heat up the metal where BJ is pressed into. my last BJ changeon a 2005 low km mercedes, took alot of sledgehammer whacks, maybe a 100 that did NOTHING! even tried renting a compression tool but wasnt compatible with MB. then after 40 secs of propane heat 3 whacks and it popped right out __________________ 2015 2LT LFX 3.6L FE2 Sport Suspension MXO-6 Speed auto w/Tapshift Aftermarket Oval mufflers

07-22-2023, 05:48 AM	#2
H-Town Schmit Drives: Camaro LT Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Another thing that has me curious is that there are 1A Auto videos for all the different control arms jobs The videos are listed for 2010-2015 V6 Camaros. Except for the front forward control arm video, which is what I’m doing, and are listed as for 2010-2013 Camaros. My Haynes manual doesn’t differentiate between 5th Gen years for this job. Has me wondering if there is a different step or the job is more difficult for 2014+. I’m grasping for straws in frustration I guess.

07-22-2023, 11:31 AM	#4
H-Town Schmit Drives: Camaro LT Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Thank you Leo. Forgot to mention I tried the air punch to the stud to no avail. I want to wrap this up today, so think renting a separator is next best option. I think OReily has the jam nut style you mentioned below. Think it’s either a Lisse or OEM.

07-22-2023, 03:24 PM	#5
H-Town Schmit Drives: Camaro LT Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 5	I got them. Jeez. Once I realized the videos I was watching were geared towards not damaging the control arm on removal (which I wasn’t worried about as I had replacements), I just started air hammering the control arm itself from any angle I could get to including the stud. Eventually they popped free.

07-24-2023, 12:38 PM	#7
H-Town Schmit Drives: Camaro LT Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 5	I will keep that in mind when I do the rear facing front control arms. Thanks!