I have to disconnect the left control arm ball joint from the steering knuckle to replace a CV axle with a broken boot, but I'm having a very hard time. I took out the nut and bolt and I've been trying to pry it apart and even using a big hammer on the pry bar, but it just won't budge. Do you have any advice on getting it apart? What about disconnecting the other end of the control arm from the car? The nuts and bolts look accesible, but I'm asking because I don't want to make my situation even worse.

 

Use a hammer on the knuckle where the ball joint goes into the knuckle.This will dislodge it. How many times and how hard is determined by how siezed up it is. A fork will just tear the boot, but it will not come off with a prybar.

 

I don't actually remove the ball joint when i do an axle. I remove the 2 strut bolts and let the knuckle rest on the lower control arm.

 

OK I got that taken care of. Now I need to remove the inner CV joint from the transmission. I've been prying it but I can't seem to get it out. Any tips or tools I should use?

 

By the way, it's much easier to just take the bolts out of the control arm where they bolt to the car rather than removing that little pin from the hub assembly. to get the axle out fo the tranny all you need is a large flat screw driver that you wedge between the tranny and the axle. wiggle it a little and it should start popping out...it's nice to have another person who can steady the axle out so you do not do any damage to the seal inside or to the C-clip.