I'm replacing all of my ball joints and i can't get the wheel bearings to come out. I did the trick with loosening the bolts about 1/4" and hitting them with a hammer and i'm just mushrooming the heads of the bolts. Is there some kind of trick to get these things to release.

Oh yeah, and i've already tried a bigger hammer.

 

Put a socket on the 12 point bolts (if you still can) and a short extension ( i had to use a deep socket) and then turn the steering wheel and guide the end of the extension towards part of the knuckle, then go turn the steering wheel, and it will press the bearing out.

Here is a picture from infidels Gallery:



I did the same thing , except i used a much shorter extension , and put it right down onto the steering stop closer to the knuckle ,as it was more solid.

 

wow, thats a good idea, thanks. I'll go see if it works for me.

 

worked perfect. Now the ball joints are giving me problems. You don't happen to have a trick for them too? I've gotten them to crack loose, but the lip that holds the c-clip on doesn't quite fit through the hole now. I'm about to get out the propane torch.

 

You've beat on it a bit too much and mushroomed the head of the ball joint now! After you grind that part off, go to your local parts store ( Autozone, Advance ) whathave you , and rent a ball joint press. You'll have a much easier time remove AND installing the ball joints without damaging anything.

 

I got a ball joint kit and it still didn't move. I ground off the whole top, it's still in there and pressed again. I heated with a propane torch and pressed somemore. If I had my oxyacetylene torch with me, I'd cut it out. Any more ideas? I've replaced a handfull of balljoints in my life, this is the most stuck i've ever seen one.

 

I got it. Tighten the press, tap, lube, let it sit for about 30 minutes. It took about a total of 8 hours to change all 4 joints.