I am trying to get my old drums off so I can put on disc brakes.
I am having trouble seperating the lower ball joint from the LCA.

I have a ball joint "lifter". The "pickle fork" did not work on the other side, so I got this other tool.
I have applied considerable force, but it will not come loose (it's probably the 40 year old original).

I was thinking of appling a little heat with a propane torch. Is this not wise?
I do not want to take any chances.
Any other tricks? I tried hitting the part of the LCA around the ball joint.

Thanks

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"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

take 2 hammers make sure one is a ball pein style-- place it against the control arm where the stem goes through, now smack the 1st hammer with the other preferably bigger hammer 3 or 4 lb, move this around the joint & it will come off. Another method if your ball joints are no good place this set- up on top of the ball joint stem & hammer away it will mushroom the stem- but the joing is no good anyway!! Enjoy!!!!

Heat is fine and might help. Just make sure you heat the part you want to expand, the LCA, not the threaded end of the ball joint. If your "lifter" is that tool that is wedged between the upper and lower ball joints and expands as you turn the threads, it should work. You might put it under a fair amount of tension and give the LCA a sharp whack with a large hammer (worked for me).

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

thanks for dee ad vise

_________________
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Even if you want to keep the ball joint, just flip the castle nut over, spin it down until the flat bottom is flush with the end of the stem to protect the threads, then give it a few whacks.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

I used the propane torch. It popped after about a minute.
Thanks again

_________________
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."