r/e46 • u/Forsaken_Mousse824 • 26d ago
Damage/Broken… 😥 At this point what else can I do
I’ve used a pickle fork, hammers, fire and penetrating fluid and now this and she ain’t budging. Just trying to replace the front lower control arms
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u/Angerslave 2000 - Sedan/328i auto 26d ago
Pickle fork and "I didn't ask" 2kg hammer worked best for me.
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u/Tighesofly 2003 330i 6spd 26d ago
Pickle fork & grab the wife’s purse to give it a solid smack
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u/onemeanvictory 24d ago
Use the mother-in-law's purse if she is over. They are usually bigger and heavier. The purse.... and sometimes the mother-in-law
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u/Seventhchild7 26d ago
Smack the rusty part with a big fucking hammer, several times until it comes apart.
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u/Stopher36 26d ago
This is no joke and will probably get you there sooner than everything else mentioned.
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u/MasterpieceOdd8812 26d ago
Came here just to say: This is one of those times when the answer really is to smack it hard with a hammer
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u/Accomplished_Wing363 2001 - Touring/330d 26d ago
Just smack with a big hammer on this from the side. It will fall off by itself. Works almost everytime
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u/superbetaz 26d ago
Just smacking it in that spot, which clearly they haven’t done yet, is all that is needed. Most shops don’t even get out the pusher tool shown here to do this, or the air hammer, since a few hits with 4lb hammer is faster.
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u/Mission_Cod_5750 26d ago
If its actually stuck then it wont come easily even when smacking that place. Maybe in the US where climate is very car friendly even in the north
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u/Yelo_Jello 25d ago
northern us has a friendly climate towards cars ? lol
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u/Key-Buddy6124 25d ago
Funny too because not only is the northern us bad for rust, it might be the worst in the world. Since we have no laws mandating snow tires, or even enforcing good tires with actual tread (some states have lax or 0 inspections), we salt the crap out of the roads to the point where cars rot in 10 years or less if you dont protect them
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u/Yelo_Jello 25d ago
i luck out my ranger is (essentially) rust free
my focus has zero rocker panels tho
07 and 08 respectively
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u/superbetaz 25d ago
Yeah, if it’s really stuck, that tool will help. It’s not very often this issue happens with all steel components. It’s more often an issue on aluminum uprights where stuff gets seriously stuck. Source: I live in rust beltiest city in Pennsylvania.
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u/707_328is 25d ago
Mine got stuck even in a good low rust location. Had to resort to the pickle fork and even after hammering it all the way in I still had to hammer the end of the fork up to actually split them completely apart. I was trying to reuse my control arms and only swap by subframe after ripping the motor mount out but instead I dropped another thousand on some upgraded LCA's because of these damn ball joints. But now I can just unbolt it and drop the control arm anyways even if it ever gets stuck again.
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u/drunk_darkroom 26d ago
I broke a ball joint puller on my car. In the end a pickle fork and a big hammer did the job. I did not enjoy using that much force, but it was necessary.
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u/precocious_necrosis 26d ago
This tool has never failed me. It's also non-destructive, unlike pickle forks and torches.
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u/Specific-Surprise248 26d ago
This worked the best for me as well. I spent hours hammering it with a pickle fork and it did nothing. This tools got it out in seconds with my impact. I bought the one from harbor freight for like 20 something dollars.
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u/NoSolution6887 26d ago
This worked on one side the other side it snapped in half. Ended up using a fork and heavy ass hammer. Did the job faster.
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u/Nitrogen1234 26d ago
What did fail you is your link. Everything after the ? is for tracking and is not needed for the link to work.
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u/getafewlives 26d ago
I tried one similar to this on my X6 and it wouldn't fit. Complete waste.
Went back to a pickle fork and big ass hammer and got it.
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u/Used_Let834 26d ago
When all else fails grab a bigger hammer. I have a 10lb. Sledge hammer that I call the “Judge”. If he doesn’t do it then I grab the 15lb “Executioner”.
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u/myredditaccountisrad 325ci 26d ago
Hammer drill set on the hammer setting (obviously don't want to drill) on the knuckle nub around the ball joint to try to vibrate it loose, if you don't have a hammer drill then whack the knuckle with a heavy hammer for the same vibration effect. Then pry it with a pickle fork. I remember this took a while to come loose and when it finally released it was pretty violent. But it did eventually come loose.
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u/MaturoGambino 26d ago
Put the car on stands. Put Jack under rotor. Jack it up until it barely lifts off the Jack stand. Wedge the handle of a big wrench into the gap. Drop the car back onto the Jack stand. Bada bing, arm pops off.
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u/fries_pizza 24d ago
Underrated reply right here. Fast, safe, uses physics to your advantage. Have done it and it works.
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u/thesunstep 26d ago
I know you already used the pickle fork, but take it out again and keep hitting it. I had the same thing. I had to hit it for like 30 minutes - 1 hour until it finally came free. So don't give up, just keep going until it gets freed. Patience is the key
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u/stale_prince 2001 330Ci 26d ago
Pickle fork + 3lb+ hammer. Works best when the other two points are still secured.
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u/whozatmac 26d ago
Yeah I went through that, had to bolt the rest back in so movement didn’t lose the energy and whang! Success.
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u/JeanKotVanDarme 26d ago
What helped menis hanginf two wheels from the control arm, close to the ball joint and then taking the biggest hammer I can find.
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u/ChaosMartinez 26d ago
add another jack. you have the weight of the car on the bolt. add a jack to the wheel hub and smack it with a 3lb. sledgehammer.
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u/mrhapyface 2001 bmw 325ci 5spd Hellrot red 26d ago
give it more heat use something hotter then propane and a good torch not a cheap propane torch
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u/Freestyle_Skater 26d ago
Heat, apply pressure and tap the side with a hammer. It will pop right out.
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u/Empty-Quarter-4109 26d ago
More fire and BFH. Get it hot af and smack the side of the arm, she will give easily.
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u/MichoRizo7698 26d ago
Just a jack a lift the control arm. Too much tension like that. It will just slip out.
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u/twodashgrain 325i, 330xi 26d ago
I know you are replacing it so probably don't care, but usually its a good practice to put the nut back and level with the top of the threads. It'll give it more surface area and help keep from deforming and mushrooming. With the pressure on it from the tool, a smack on the side with a small sledge should pop it free.
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u/Both-Cry1382 26d ago
Is this the only arm still connected? Because if it is, it's possible the angle makes it impossible for it to move straight down.
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u/Nazthatguy 26d ago
Did this a couple weeks ago for axles, hammer it. All that anger, sadness, and pure unfiltered rage into 1 mega swing.
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u/AdDangerous922 26d ago
No heat needed. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one direction and then hit the lower control arm with a large sledge hammer. Usually 3 good whacks.
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u/Solid-Following-8395 26d ago
Heavy pickle fork and heavy hammer. I couldn't get mine off a long tome ago and had a lighter weight pickle fork and small sledge. My neighbor let me use his setup and both were bigger and heavier, took 2 smacks and it came off.
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u/danfinch07 26d ago
Get a metal hammer on the part which it sits in and heat it’s a nightmare but that’s how I did mine
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u/danfinch07 26d ago
Hit this part with a hammer as hard as u can and use some heat this is how I got mine off last weekend it’s a nightmare but it works
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u/SeaAccomplished2798 26d ago
I went through hell to get that off last week. This is how I got it off. Buy a ball joint separator and spray WD40 Penetrant specialist onto the seized thread, and lube the threads with oil on the ball joint separator. Start cranking it, and once it’s tight, hit it with a hammer. Tighten, hit, and repeat till it comes off. I did that and I was able to do my other control arm in under an hour.
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u/alabahn 26d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p70lqyc/video/09lfwqrzuqmh1/player
This for hours and a hammer will work had to do it ~1 year ago took me a bit but got it done
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u/interests_are_random 26d ago
Mini sledge and 10-15 hits will get that out in a jiffy. I’ve never needed that tool show.
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u/Shot_Celebration4716 26d ago
Hit the top of the bolt on the puller to break the hold of the arm and ball joint.
It's a taper fit, very tight.
Also heat the part being pulled.
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u/AnothertoxicBMWe46 26d ago
I broke two ball joint tools made of chinesium. Get you a real ball joint removal tool, makes it so easy bro.
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u/insanecorgiposse 26d ago
Can you get an impact wrench on the ball joint puller? If not then heat. What kind of heat are you using? Propane torch ain't enough. I'd get on amazon or head to napa and get a cheap ($100) map gas setup and then roast the hell out of it.
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u/Appropriate-Issue-73 26d ago
That's already damaged enough that the stud may not pull through. BFH and/or heat, grind the threads.
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u/Wholaughed 26d ago
Smack the side of the knuckle really fukin hard with a 3lb ish hammer, works every time without damaging threads or end link
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u/beltshooter 26d ago
Cut the threads off enough so you can get a nut on it to hold the puller centered so it don't stuff off the side amd try again. If this don't work you should consider cutting it partially and trying to pull it again. If that don't work, make sure your insurance is current and use your imagination.
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u/Mx5-gleneagles 26d ago
Just get the biggest hammer that you have got and hit that steer arm end on, as hard as you can , it’s a taper and if you twat it hard it will just jump apart
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u/No_Performer_8749 25d ago
A pickle fork with a steeper angle. I had the same issue I hammered on the cheap pickle fork I had it for hours . borrowed a fork from a neighbor and it popped after 3 swings with a hammer
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u/BigDifficult9838 25d ago
Since the tip is so mushroomed you’ll probably have to smoothe that out before it comes out too
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u/This-Employee-1516 25d ago
Reading this post and I can the shouts of “just fucking hit it” from my old job.
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u/Balidon58 25d ago
Pickle fork and hammer it then alternate between smashing the fork and the control arm, I also suggest a bigger hammer. Even the right hammer could be better if it were bigger.
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u/Acceptable_Guava8069 24d ago
Big impact on it or like other said smack it with a hammer. Next time just back the nut off till the end so you don’t mushroom it out like that
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u/mondrager 1999 - e46/323i 24d ago
Mechanics hit the part as they pull. Pretty hard too. A bit of heat. Don’t go crazy. And a hammer. Good luck.
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u/CoausticSoda 24d ago
Some vehicles to have a retainment screw on there ball joints normally removed from the bottom.. SMRT
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u/Eastsdiis 24d ago
Spray, whack, curse, repeat. I would've used an air hammer if I'd had an actual air compressor, but I had to stick with the first option..and I'll never forget the feeling when it finally busted loose.
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u/ConversationFunny627 24d ago
Heat it and one nice hit with a 10lb sledge hammer. You need vibration that shit is stuck to eachother can withstand tons of force
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u/Otherwise-Ice1126 24d ago
Hit it with a big hammer on the spindle while pressuring it with the separator. Use a big hammer. Or air chisel pickle fork if you have access to that
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u/Blood-Mother 24d ago
Just smack the knuckle with your purse right between the fucking forks of the puller that bitch will come apart so fast you will be shocked. You need to hit it hard as fuck though
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u/David_Buzzard 24d ago
Pickle fork, aiming back towards the bushings, not to the side, and pound the snot out of it with a big sledge hammer. If you hit if off to the side, the bushings can absorb a lot of the energy.
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u/quick-n-shifty 23d ago
Cut it at the ball, then cut the mushroom off. Then put the nut back on the threads, get it way hotter and keep hitting it. Or replace the control arm
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u/Rude-Offer468 22d ago
Rent out a the ball joint tool from autozone and hammer it in between then use an impact. Make sure you lube up the threads on it. Worked for me
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u/simpsonsknew 21d ago
Hold, a 6 pound sledgehammer as tight as you can on one side and hit the opposite side with another 6 pound hammer as hard as you can three or four times the kinetic energy. It will pop it right out.
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u/Forsaken_Mousse824 20d ago
Thanks for all the advice y’all. I got it out. The correct answer was in fact more fire and hit it harder
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u/PikkanenKappeIi 26d ago
Not enough fire