How do you get the steering nuckle off an fbi 248 1998 4wd. The manual says to beat it with a brass hammer and I have been beating it and it will not come loose. The truck needs to be done tonight but I am concerned about damaging the nuckle at the ball joint seats. I am replacing the ball joints and I have all of the tools I need but separating the nuckle from the ball joints which have to be done at the same time is proving not to be a simple as hitting it a couple of times with a brass hammer like the manual says.

 

Beat it off??? with a brass hammer??? I generally use a pickel fork. There are different sizes so pick the correct size for your joint. To replace the joints I use a ball joint press. It's like a big C-clamp with adapters to fit the joint to press it out then in without stressing the knuckle.

 

I was able to get it off by just beating it with a hammer. Not the ball joint itself but the seat where the ball joint neck slides into. After getting the nuckle off I found a lot of corrosion in the seat for the upper ball joint. So it was the upper that was keeping it from coming off. I cleaned it up, pressed out the upper ball joint, applied anti seize lubricant to all surfaces, pressed in the new joint and assembled everything. By the way you can't fit a piece of paper between the u-joint and the 90 degree gease fitting that came with the joint. I prefer non-greaseable joints.

 

I know what you mean. You need an adapter for your grease gun that has a needle point on it to poke it in the check ball hole of the fitting so you can pump grease in it. I think Lincoln has a good assortment of adapters. Check with your local auto parts store.