removing lower ball joint 1997

[galantryinbattle]

does anyone know offhand what size that nut on the front lower balljoint/ side control lower balljoint? I brought a bunch of tools home but I didn't get the right size wrench for it. I have to remove this becuase Im changing out the halfshaft which has a destroyed CV joint from letting the motor mounts deteriorate for too long.

[seth98esT]

You dont have to remove the ball joint to take the axle out.

All you have to do is the following:
1. Remove the axle nut in the hub
2. Unbolt the strut fork from the lower control arm
3. Unbolt the lower control arm from the chassis
4. Pull the hub out, you can push the axle out of the hub
5. Pull the axle out of the trans.

Thats all you have to do, nothing else. Ive pulled a many axles with just doing this. Its the easies way and doesnt screw up your alignment.

[galantryinbattle]

thank you very much, I honestly never even thought about that

[seth98esT]

No problem, took me a few times to figure out that you could do it this way, the hardest part is getting the axle out of the hub. At first it might seem that the hub doesnt swing out far enough, but if you finangle it a bit, and push/pull on the axle a bit, it slides out pretty easy.

Good luck!

[seth98esT]

And if you still have problems, check out these pics, I think they help:
https://www.thegalantcenter.org/showpost.php?p=352551&postcount=1