Community Forums:

I separated my VW vanagon front suspension with a pickle fork... Yup, the ball came out of the socket which was inconveniently still in the swivel arm. $90 later it was all better. The "ball joint press" kit the local parts shop will have is a c-clamp type arrangement that may or may not work for you.

The best I have come across is a "scissors" type press that does the job handily (I learned, it cost less than $90). I also have two different tie-rod splitters (like a two-arm puller but the arms are a heavy piece of steel and immobile) that work wonders on the smaller ball-joints and (of course) on tie-rods... larger one works on your pittman arms too (and is called a pittman arm puller, right).

I have never once had good luck with a pickle fork. I've had better luck loosening the nut and letting the spring do the work while I wailed on the swivel arm (loud noise when it lets go... don't take that nut all the way off!).

PB'laster may work but I never have the foresight or patience to let it do the work.

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Mike!