93 525 - need help with up & low control arm

[Cooper24]

Today I am replacing the strut cartridges and decided to replace the upper and lower control arms as well. I can't get the ball joints of the control arms to separate from the lower plate. I have tried two pickle forks, heating the lower plate, and pounding the sh&@# out of it. Any suggestions. I'm looking for the easy way out.

Thanks

[632 Regal]

ball joint removal tool works great, i dont feel like searching for it now tho. I have had luck with the picklefork thing, just takes about 20 whacks with a #20 sledge. Bill R removes the whole thing and beats them out with a small hanner and socket thing.

http://www.bimmernut.com/wwwboard/e34/si.html

[Espen]

I see this subject here from time to time, never really bothered to comment it before, but now I have finished the same job on my car, and I`ll have to ask you guys. Are we talking about the ball joints in the end of the control/thrust arms? I replaced mine and all I did was undoing the .... damn forgot the english word for it.. 6 edged thing with threads.... And gave the balljoint "bolt" one wack with my hammer, (not a big hammer) and it popped loose, same thing for both balljoints on both sides. Well i had some problems on one of them. I tried to loosen the "6 edged thing" ( holly Sh"#¤"! i really cant remember the word for it.. alzheimers?) but the balljoint just turned around along with it, so i had to take my grinder and cut it off, then the balljoint just fell down, without any hammering.

[Cooper24]

I wish I had your luck. I broke down after a failed demonstration of my manliness with the biggist hammer I had. Here a pic of the tool I got at Advance Auto in a free rental kit. Tighted it up, hit the top of the tool twice and it popped right out. Notice that 6 edge thingy isn't there.