Help!!!! UCA removal

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:20 pm

So, I've read and searched and read and searched again. Finally ready to dig into my '02 and install JBA UCAs and my Franki II. For the life of me I CANNOT remove the UCA ball joint bolt from the knuckle - on either side. Despite the Franki instructions, I decided to try a pickle fork since I'm replacing the UCAs (and the right boot was torn anyway). I'm actually bending the fork, but neither side will budge. I've read tons of posts - been at this since 0500. Beyond frustrated right now - any help would be appreciated.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:27 pm

Unscrew the Ball Joint nut ALL the way..... then put it back on a few threads.
Then Whack the hell out of the Knuckle with a 3-5LB hand sledge.
Should pop right out...

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:37 pm

03CDKJ wrote:

Unscrew the Ball Joint nut ALL the way..... then put it back on a few threads.
Then Whack the hell out of the Knuckle with a 3-5LB hand sledge.
Should pop right out...

Thanks - have hammered the he$$ out of both sides - not even a mm of movement! I'm worried about bending the bolt if I hammer it that much (may have already...). I'm thinking taking a dremel to the bolt may be the only way...

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:42 pm

One good SOLID whack at the top of the Knuckle where the Ball Joint goes in should do it..
Spray some PB Blaster...
If the Ball Joint has not come out I doubt you bent it....

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:52 pm

Just to be sure - hitting part where I'm pointing... PB Blaster has been on for hours. PB blaster isn't doing much on the side in the photo as the boot is not torn. What am I missing..?

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:55 pm

Put your @ss into it and hit the thing!
Mudd can do it in one whack......and he's like 80!

And you won't see it move MM or CM... It'll just POP out... Hence why you put the nut back on.... To stop the knuckle from falling down...

Make sure that nut came all the way off first and then put it back on..... Or you will have a hell of a time trying to get it off after the ball joint has seperated.

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:01 pm

Ha, ha! I've been a long-time lurker, so I feel honored to have my ba!!s busted using Mr. Mudd. I'm using a 2.5 lb dead blow - not enough umpfff...? Trip to Lowes forthcoming, I guess.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:04 pm

Hit it on the bend of the knuckle.... about an inch to the left of your finger....

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:05 pm

60av8tor wrote:

Ha, ha! I've been a long-time lurker, so I feel honored to have my ba!!s busted using Mr. Mudd. I'm using a 2.5 lb dead blow - not enough umpfff...? Trip to Lowes forthcoming, I guess.

and yes a 2.5lb dead blow might not do it....

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:18 pm

Dead blow won't do it, that would be like smacking a lady of the evening's behind,
won't do much except excite her a little :wink:

need a "real hammer" and one whack is all you need

Don't worry though,
there has been more than once that 03CDKJ has yelled
" Mudd come over here and knock this one loose!"

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:26 pm

Thank you both for the assist.... Included a pic of the new 'tool'. Amazing - I messed with this thing for the last 7 hours; 2 hits, and there she sits. Thanks again guys

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:31 pm

Good work!
:google:

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:51 pm

I should have followed my gut this AM (a very long time ago) when I began this project - should have left well enough alone. I have rebuilt numerous motorcycles, so I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined. What the eff is going on here - look at the extreme angle needed by my lower control arm to try to get the lower clevis aligned. I'm surely going to damage something - if I already haven't. I literally can't move it any more - I don't see how I can possibly get the clevis aligned. If I could compress the spring, it would work I think, but at full extension. I'm at a loss.... my poor Libby...save me again guys....

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:58 pm

Well for one thing loosen it back up some and wrap that CV with a heavy rag so you don't damage the boot.
Next the rachet straps ( if heavy enough ) will pull them in. Now you do have a "ear" above the hole on each LCA where the bolt goes through, that will sometimes hang you up a little so it will not pop into place. Trust me it will go, been there a " few" times my self, no fun crawling under to tighten the rachet strap, climb out to use a pry bar to pop it into place , but again it will go.

Just make sure on the drivers side you wrap the CV boot up to prevent it from tearing.
You'll get it, I know you will
I'll keep checking back every now and again on ya! :wink:

and get the straps down as far as possible on the clevis, it does help some

60av8tor · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:14 pm

Thanks for the help - again. I'm trying to believe every word - kind of like when I first learned to change motorcycle tires. I was told "if you're struggling, you're not using the proper technique". The first time or two, there was no way I was believing that advice, but sure enough, once I learned what I was doing, it was good advice. One more photo to show how much further I have to go - I can't get the lower arm any lower and I'm still this far off... Taking the wife to dinner to take a breather. Again, I really appreciate the help.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:42 pm

Yes you'll be off that far without anything holding it, the drivers side is the worst, has been on everyone I've been involved in as far as getting it back in. ( this goes for Frankys and our modified ones)
But it will go, as many times as I've had mine apart there has been a few times when I thought there is no way, but it went.

Hope you had a nice relaxing dinner!

Grannysgoat · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:34 pm

Assuming you are doing this by yourself, really sucks.

We ran into similar issues when we did ours (doesn't everyone). As Tom mentioned, loosen up the clevis nut so that it will turn and make sure it is all the way to the top(it doesn't look like it is in your pictures). Make sure that the 4 nuts/bolts holding in the strut are also loose. We pulled one side in and put a screwdriver throught the clevis into the hole. Then we pulled the other side in and got the bolt started and were able to hammer it though pushing out the screwdriver.

The other side is easier

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:24 pm

ahhhh the ole Frankenlift by yourself..... :lol:

That was lesson 362 in Mudd's Garage....

I can be in GA by tomorrow night.... Send me a paypal..... I require 1 gyro every 3hrs, and a plethora of cookies no more than 2.75' away at all times.... :wink:

You may want to get with POTE, I think he is getting a goat.... :google:

60av8tor · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:33 am

Thanks again for the help - part II begins now :furious:

60av8tor · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:40 am

Hallelujah, got it together - thanks for all the assistance. This is definitely pretty tough to tackle solo - at least the first time until you learn little techniques, what works, what doesn't, etc. Only a few days of vaca left, so off to do some dirt-biking to take advantage of the nice weather; then back to put this one to bed. I'll post pics of the finished product to be sure.

Help!!!! UCA removal

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