Hello Everyone,

Well I attempted today to try to replace my drive axles and
ran into a problem with the lower ball joint. I had thought that I
could use the tie-rod separator tool on the lower ball joint as well.
It turns out that I can not get enough room to put the separator into
the ball joint. The factory manual calls for tool 09568-34000 which is
similar to 09568-31000, which is the tie rod separator. Is the 34000
separator something that is longer and thinner than the tie rod
separator? I want to make sure that I need a separate tool for the
ball joint or if I am doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

 

not sure if it is the same as 1994 excel but I remove the two bolts from the
lower wishbone assy and remove the hub with the ball joint still attached to
the bracket.


Nick wrote in message ...
>Hello Everyone,
>
> Well I attempted today to try to replace my drive axles and
>ran into a problem with the lower ball joint. I had thought that I
>could use the tie-rod separator tool on the lower ball joint as well.
>It turns out that I can not get enough room to put the separator into
>the ball joint. The factory manual calls for tool 09568-34000 which is
>similar to 09568-31000, which is the tie rod separator. Is the 34000
>separator something that is longer and thinner than the tie rod
>separator? I want to make sure that I need a separate tool for the
>ball joint or if I am doing something wrong.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Nick

 

I usually use a very large hammer and just keep whacking the knuckle when
separating this ball joint.

I don't take the ball joint loose when I can avoid it, however, because it
really is a large pain in the ****. It's difficult to get the hammer in.
I usually unbolt the knuckle from the strut and take the tie rod end
loose, and then pull out the top of the knuckle, freeing the axle for
removal.