I'm trying to get my struts out. They're early style (pinch bolt, not the wedge bolt). Bolt is out. PB Blaster applied, tried separating the 2 sides of the pinch, but the ball joint won't let go.

ball joint still attached to the control arm.

am I missing something? suggestions? tips/tricks?

if you are replacing the ball joint, get a ball joint fork tool and use the shock to get it out.

Its pinch in there, so removing the stress by unbolting the front and rear of the a-arm helps sometimes.

Torch and alot of heat also works...with the fork.

rich

We call them "pickle forks." I don't know why, probably funny to someone somewhere sometime, and it stuck.

If you think the insert is good, take it out.

Then use heat and a pickle fork. They're fairly inexpensive at your local ChinaFreight.

heat (and a lot of leverage) did the trick. thanks for the suggestion.