Ball Joint Rebuild Help

[TNT25169]

I'm rebuilding my ball joints on my control arms and I am trying to remove the clip from the bottom of the ball joint that holds the whole thing together and I can't seem to get it. I have been prying on the clip for a while, does anyone know of a way to do this easily?

[948T]

I ran into the same thing. If the clip is moving, there is no way to wedge it and still put pressure on one side to get another screwdriver under it. I did this awhile ago. I think the best thing is a third hand to hold one end of the clip. Use one small flathead and twist it into the corner created by the clip angled end and the a-arm, then stick a small point or flathead into the gap created when you twist the other flathead. Why o why didn't they put some holes in the ends of that clip?????

[Techno Duck]

Dremel with cut off wheel, cut the clip in two. Then hammer it out with a flat tip screw driver.

[SoCal Driver]

Dremel with a side cutting mill bit. Grind a groove to get behind the clip. This way you can reuse it.

[TNT25169]

I'm going to dremel the thing apart tomorrow and I don't need to worry about reusing my clip, new ones are provided with my rebuild kit. Thanks guys.

[Techno Duck]

Good luck, this is probably the single most frustrating part of rebuilding the control arms. The 2nd most is compressing the balljoint enough to get the new clip in. It was particuarly hard for because i used the geometry correcting kit, it was tough to find a socket long enough to slip over the balljoint pin.

[arbita1]

Originally posted by Techno Duck
Good luck, this is probably the single most frustrating part of rebuilding the control arms.

Ever try replacing the front busings on the control arm!

I guess I was lucky. I was able to remove mine with a small jewlers type screwdriver.

[Techno Duck]

Matt, i just let Travis at Rennbay deal with it.. heh heh.