Lower ball joints

[Tiger13]

Evening all, I am trying to get off the lower ball joints on a ka I said I would change the clutch on for a family member, All is going well exept when I got to the lower ball joints (To get the driveshafts out), I cant f**king get them off, Iv tried smashing the hell out of them with a bj seperator and they are budging but really not much, Obviously the pinch bolt is undone and I cant see anything else holding it on, I think they are just being a nightmare,

Any tips or ideas?

Thanks!

[mowgli]

just unbolt the bottom arm at the bushes. you are sticking it back together, so why bother killing the joint?

[Tiger13]

Was thinking that but wanted to do it 'properly'!, Think il just end up doing it your way though!

[MK999]

This type ball joint seperator is an absolute god send:

http://www.toolsource.com/prod_medium/111884.jpg

Wind it on until it stops and give a tap back central and it will pop anything out, took less than an hour to strip the front end down on my BMW, which is 4 ball joints/side.

[Iain]

No room to get one of those in if the shafts are still in place MK999999999999999999?

[MK999]

Will be plenty of room? it sits on the arm and the bolt winds in against the threaded section of the ball joint. I think you misunderstand how it fits if you think there's no room?

Edit: apparently ford's work backwards, so that type ball joint seperator doesn't fit. Therefore you have no hope and I recommend either selling or burning it.

[gearbox90]

you say you have undone the pinch bolt but have you removed it totally ? It needs to be removed.

[Tiger13]

It has been totally removed and even knocked the area with a hammer to try and loosen the taper but no joy :( Thanks MK yeah I have one of those but as you mentioned it doesnt work with this type, I hate Ka's and not really enjoying working on it but I said I would do it so I have to now!

[gearbox90]

there is no taper . drive a chisel into the slot to open it up , bobs ya uncle out it pops :D

[Markd89]

Lower the strut from the hub housing gives you plenty of room to get the shafts out, did a 53 plate ka last week and they wouldnt Budje either

[Tiger13]

Thanks guys +rep for both of the above comments, Thanks!!