[alfa] GTV-6 Ball joint removal

[John Brase <jbrase@xxxxxxxx>]

Semi related to the current discussion of removing torsion bars, how 
does one separate the lower ball joint in the absence of the factory tool?

I had a front shock fail and upon investigation found that one of the 
bolts locating the bottom of the shock had broken and the resultant 
flexing caused the other attachment ear on the bottom of the shock to 
break.  Easy fix, I foolishly thought.  I bought new shocks and in the 
process of removing the old ones broke two more lower attachment bolts 
off, even after soaking them with PB Blaster.  So then I thought, "drill 
out what's left of the bolts, re-thread the holes and replace with 
larger bolts."  Hah!  That ain't happnin.  After an hour on my back 
trying to drill onto a blind hole I got pretty much nowhere.  (My 
kingdom for a lift!)  And, even if I did get somewhere I have no idea 
whether the hole would follow the bolt hole or find its own way through 
the A arm and emerge out the other side somewhere other than where it 
should be.  So, now I think the best approach is to remove the lower A 
arms and do the work on a drill press.  Hence the need to separate the 
lower ball joint.  An added advantage to this would be that it would 
give me the opportunity to grind some material off the A arm spacers to 
try to get back to somewhere near the  correct camber number.  (The car 
has been lowered and the camber is about a ton too negative.)

John
84 GTV-6
Indiana
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