Honda Civic ball joint help

[Cobradavid]

I'm helping out a friend with his 2002 Civic. He needs the control arms and struts replaced. He has the parts but we can't seem to get the ball joint separated from the lower control arm. The ball joint is still good, so I don't want to use a pickle fork on it and mess it up. I checked all the local auto parts stores and they don't have a ball joint separator tool for rent/borrow. I've seen some of the tools for sale on-line, but I'd rather not spend $70-100 on a tool I'll use for 5 minutes total.

Any tricks to getting the ball joint to separate from the control arm?

David

[michael everson]

Usually a very large hammer to the side of the control arm will free it. Just keep hitting it right where the ball joint passes through.
Mike

[PaulProe]

David
Use a "jacking screw". I have a page on my website to show you how to make one using threaded rod and coupling nuts. Works really slick, parts aren't damaged and you don't need to swing a BFH

This is the link (http://3x2csx.com/Other/Balljoint_Tool.htm)

Paul

[Cobradavid]

Thanks for the suggestions. Paul, that jacking screw idea looks like it would work well on double A arm suspensions, but the Honda has a MacPherson Strut and there's only one control arm and one ball joint. So I wouldn't have anything for the jacking screw to push against.

I'm hoping to borrow a ball joint separator tool, but I'm still interested in any ideas in case that doesn't work.

David