I can't get the lower ball joint on the control arm separated from brake rotor assembly on my prelude. Will a pitman arm puller work for this or a pickle fork? I don't know what to try, because I've only used those on the upper ball joint before.

 

gget a pickle fork with a big hammer and start hitting it till it breaks free.

 

^^^ what he said. I use an 18" pickle fork and a 6lb sledge hammer. Works everytime. I had one (1) on an accord that required a little torch heat....and a 10lb sledge

 

worked. thanks

 

a better way if you have a lift, is to get the car up in the air and smack the LCA hard as shit with like a 5lb mallet. a few good whacks will usually seperate them, and you won't rip the balljoint boot like you do with a pickle fork.

 

Big fucking hammer.


Worked for me.

 

is your friend

 

so i did all that and put the new axles in and then noticed a torn boot on the steering rack. I'm replacing both sides tomorrow. I've got get an alignment after that, right? Also, does it need to be packed with grease?

 

just count the turns it takes to twist off the outer tie rod ends and make sure to turn them back on the same amount of turns and you should be good to go. no, you do not pack the steering rack boots with grease. they just keep dirt and debris from getting in the joint on the inner tie rod.

if you are super anal you can get an alignment though, isn't going to hurt.