Lower Ball Joint/Steering Arm Removal Advice Needed
As you know I am in the process of removing my K-Member. Also while doing so I am upgrading my 71 Duster Drum brakes to Disc brakes off of a 75 Valiant. I have all the parts, but I need to swap out the Steering Arm/Lower Ball Joint. I have already taken off the UCA, so I don't think that specialty tool will work, not sure it would work on a 71 Duster anyway. I figure I can use the pickle fork on the ball joint that connects to the LCA since I will not be reusing it. I am not sure about the joint between the lower ball and the tie rod (Yellow arrow) will a tie rod remover work there?
Questions:
1. If I use the pickle fork at the red arrow will I damage anything?
2. Would it be easier to put the UCA back on and use that specialty tool to get the steering arm/lower ball joint off?
3. When I hit the joint with the pickle do I drive it straight in just like the arrow, or do I put it in and hit it up and down?
4. If I use the pickle at the tie rod do I risk messing up the entire steering system?
Any other help/hints/wisdom you can provide would be appreciated, I have never taken apart one of these joint things.
As you know I am in the process of removing my K-Member. Also while doing so I am upgrading my 71 Duster Drum brakes to Disc brakes off of a 75 Valiant. I have all the parts, but I need to swap out the Steering Arm/Lower Ball Joint. I have already taken off the UCA, so I don't think that specialty tool will work, not sure it would work on a 71 Duster anyway. I figure I can use the pickle fork on the ball joint that connects to the LCA since I will not be reusing it. I am not sure about the joint between the lower ball and the tie rod (Yellow arrow) will a tie rod remover work there?
Questions:
1. If I use the pickle fork at the red arrow will I damage anything?
2. Would it be easier to put the UCA back on and use that specialty tool to get the steering arm/lower ball joint off?
3. When I hit the joint with the pickle do I drive it straight in just like the arrow, or do I put it in and hit it up and down?
4. If I use the pickle at the tie rod do I risk messing up the entire steering system?
Any other help/hints/wisdom you can provide would be appreciated, I have never taken apart one of these joint things.