Ball joint removal

[jmbrodsky@domain.elided]

     IH all,
     
        I've always been able to remove ball joints with good old 
     mechanical engineering and a bit of brute.  The method is by 
     loosening the nut that attaches the joint about 1-2 full turns, 
     enough to see a space between the nut and the fixed side (female 
     part) of the ball joint.  By gently tapping the female part there 
     are two principles at work to free the joing.  First is that you 
     send a shock through the joint which breaks loose the thin layer of 
     rust that bonds the two parts together.  Second is that for a split 
     second you are decreasing the size of the wide female part of the 
     taper, thus forcing the male side of the taper to 'jump' out.  I've 
     drawn an ascii representation at the end here, let me know if it's 
     ok.
     
     
         _---------_
        /           \__________________________
       /             
      |   ball joint      
      |   male side
      |
       \             __________________________
        \_         _/
         _---------_
        /           \  <--- grease boot
       _-------------_
      /   fixed side  \
     |  drag link,     |
     |  knuckle,       |<------ tap here, don't be afraid to get into it
     |  tie-rod, etc.  |        can't really hurt anything.
      \_             _/
        -------------
         ----------- <-----  space (about 1-2 full turns)
         |  |   |  |
         |  |nut|  |
         \__|___|__/
     
                Let me know what you think.  I was simply amazed when my 
     father showed me this way back when.  Joints just pop out with no 
     tools necessary.  It may be different on rusted solid parts, but on 
     my '72 carryall which had been swamped over and over by the 
     previous owner the joints still popped right out.
     
     
          Let me know, I hate to damage a grease boot when I don't have 
     to.

     -Joel Brodsky

         '76 IHC Scout II 345/tf727
         '75 IHC Travelall 150 4wd 392/tf727
         '72 Chev Carryall 3dr 4wd 350/th350 sold, but not forgotten.