I need to replace the ball joints on my 740, and wonder if a pitman arm puller will work. It seems like people have trouble with the pickle fork. The puller I have seen is from Autozone and is a bigger version of the one that is said to be for tie rod ends. It looks like:

------
| |
|
++ |+++
|
|______|

where the ++'s represent the screw.

Thanks,
Steve

Let me know how things went - I am about to replace the ball joints on my '89 740 with 110K miles, and want to know the best way to remove the joints.

Another thing I am concerned about - does replacing balljoints involve compressing the springs? Or can I separate the ball joints from the strut and just let the suspension dangle without worrying about an exploding spring?

Thanks.

I resorted to a plumbers handheld propane torch. Applied flame to contol arm, at balljoint, for about 3-5 minutes, then gave balljoint a little whack and out it popped. Prior to torch I spent an hour with hammer, pickle fork. Ended up removing control arm, I was replacing contol arm/raius rod bushings anyway. They are very stubborn if original parts, Good Luck;)
Rob Mac
1989 740GL

I've had very good luck heating it as Rob mentions. A quick tip though, when you install the new ball joint, use a thin coat of anti-seize. No heat or pickle fork required next time -- just hit it with a hammer. (this also works great for tie-rod ends)

Jeff Pierce
--
'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)

I have used the U-shaped one successfully. Be careful as some of the arms are aluminum, i.e. don't wail on it with all you've got.

It is "C" shaped with a screw down the middle.

-Steve