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Thread: Lower Control Arm Removal

  1. #1
    Member Nifty_Biscuit's Avatar
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    Angry Lower Control Arm Removal

    I've hit a snag replacing the control arms on the front of my 2014, the part that meets the wheel hub is stuck. All bolts and nuts have been removed (The one in the picture I just put back in to try and leverage the arm downwards, its not threaded and it was out before). Anyone have any tips or suggestions to get this out? Don't even know why it is so stuck

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  2. #2
    Put the two mount bolts back and hit the side of the spindle at the ball joint. Or use a pickle fork since I assume you don’t care about wrecking the ball joint boot.
    Skip to the 1:30 mark
    Mirage videos:

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


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    Member Nifty_Biscuit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fummins View Post
    Or use a pickle fork since I assume you don’t care about wrecking the ball joint boot.
    Ah, I saw a few of those in the garage at work where I was, well working (on the car). Didn't know what they were, I'll give those a try if a bigger hammer doesn't do the job. Your assumption is correct, I defiantly do not care about that joint since I'm replacing it with one that doesn't look like a toasted marshmallow

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    Had the same problem yesterday on a GM Opel Corsa, took a full half hour or so to get it off.
    If you don't have a pickle fork or if its a wrong size, maybe you have a breaker bar or a suitable ball joint separator? I have two different styles, but sometimes neither is suitable for the particular job.

    Another method is to use a hot air gun on the surrounding cast iron, carefully sparing the universal joint, then whack it again and it might crack off easier with the help of a breaker bar or similar.

    If you put a dab of black grease or copper paste on the new one, it will be easier to take apart in years to come.

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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nifty_Biscuit View Post
    ...replacing the control arms on the front of my 2014
    Just curious why you are doing this job. Are your ball joints bad?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)


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    Member Nifty_Biscuit's Avatar
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    I ended up renting this tool and it made it about 1 mill x easier, saw it in the video Fummins linked so thank you for that

    https://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tool...tor/787834_0_0

    Quote Originally Posted by Top_Fuel View Post
    Just curious why you are doing this job. Are your ball joints bad?
    Yes, very. All of my bushings, the shocks, and the ball joints were done-zo. I forgot to get the Tie rod bushings so now I have to order those and do that later too.



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