Miata Mailing List: February 1993, Message #32
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   From: (none)
Subject: Ball joint separation trick
   Date: (none)

To: MIATA SEND

001Subject:  Millen sway bars: installation and impressions
Jeff writes...
>The Miata Shop Manual specifies a special ball joint separator for the
>upper ball joint on the front wheel.  This is necessary because the shock
>tower, once loosened top and bottom, can't be tilted to clear the fender
>well unless the upper A-arm is lowered.  Unfortunately, all of the decent
>universal ball joint separators that I tried are too long to fit in the
>cramped space between the upper and lower A-arms.  You can avoid the whole
>issue by removing the two inside bolts that retain the lower A-arm as I
>did.  These also are responsible for adjusting the camber and caster
>though, so take careful note of the settings before you loosen them.  You
>should also consider having the car realigned after you're done.

I tried several so-called ball joint seperators with no luck at all.  I
thought of undoing the lower A-arm bolts, but it looked difficult
as well.  Then I talked to a auto-x mechanic friend, and he gave me a tip
for disconnecting the upper ball joint.  Not only did it work, but it was
very easy as well.  I don't know the lingo very well, so this shows you how
much of a mechanic I am.  Here's the trick:

1) Place a pry bar of some sort between the a-arm (ball joint housing) and
the steering arm of the hub (were the ball joint joins/bolts in).
2) Place a little pressure on it, as if you were just going to pry the ball
joint loose.
3) Next, rap the side of the steering arm (were the ball joint
mounts) a few times with a standard hammer, and the joint should pop out
from the pressure of the pry bar.

What happens is the "rap" sends vibrations through out the
steering arm housing and for a breif moment the fiction is interupted by
the vibration, and with the pry pressure on, the joint moves and pops out.

Worked for me on the 2nd and 3rd rap on my fronts.   ---JCG.