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What did you do to your Ram today???

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The front is fighting bad. First the upper control arm would not disconnect from the upper ball joint. I tried a 2 different forks and it was a no go then I went to my ball joint kit. The bolt was so long I had to cut in order to use the tool.
I got my new kit for spring tool and I'm really surprised how well it works for a cheap tool. Now I can't get the shock bolt off the top hat its all rusted and jacked up. Impact isn't working and I cant hold the shaft in place. Do I just cut the dust shield so I can grip the shaft and keep it from spinning?
Leave spring pressure on the strut when loosening the bolt. Will help keep the shaft from spinning. Once the nut starts to loosen, then compress the springs.

As for ball joint, never use a pickle fork. All they do it destroy the ball joint boots. Hopefully you have new UCAs already especially since you cut the threads. All you need to do is loosen the ball joint nut, don't completely remlve the nut, then smack the **** out of the spindle, by the ball joint, with a hammer. It will pop loose.
 
Leave spring pressure on the strut when loosening the bolt. Will help keep the shaft from spinning. Once the nut starts to loosen, then compress the springs.

As for ball joint, never use a pickle fork. All they do it destroy the ball joint boots. Hopefully you have new UCAs already especially since you cut the threads. All you need to do is loosen the ball joint nut, don't completely remlve the nut, then smack the **** out of the spindle, by the ball joint, with a hammer. It will pop loose.
I do have new control arms or I wouldn't have used something that destroys them or cut them. I have several removing tools and have never had to cut a bolt like that before but a bigger tool wouldn't have fit it in the same space.
I tried putting as much pressure on the hat/top to jamb the shaft as I was comfortable with but it still spun. I fear springs a little too much which may be the cause of that method not working but I've had success with it before. I'm going to try and grab the shaft with vice grips after another attempt of putting more pressure on it. Its coming off today! 🤪
 
I do have new control arms or I wouldn't have used something that destroys them or cut them. I have several removing tools and have never had to cut a bolt like that before but a bigger tool wouldn't have fit it in the same space.
I tried putting as much pressure on the hat/top to jamb the shaft as I was comfortable with but it still spun. I fear springs a little too much which may be the cause of that method not working but I've had success with it before. I'm going to try and grab the shaft with vice grips after another attempt of putting more pressure on it. Its coming off today! 🤪
The other option is to buy a set of the pass through sockets and ratchet. Then you can get a tool on the hex of the shift above the nut, to hold the shaft when you break the nut loose.
 

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