[BrendanP]

If anyone watches TV shows like Wheeler Dealers, you know how easy it is to separate a lower ball joint. After removing the ball joint nut, give the steering knuckle a tap with a hammer and the ball joint just pops out. In my experience, that's not how it works in real life.

I have a ball-joint splitter but it's impossible to fit around the ball joint on an i30 FD. I used my trolley jack and some rope to apply force to push the ball joint out, and a dozen hard whacks with a lump hammer finally made it pop out.

[TerryT]

If anyone watches TV shows like Wheeler Dealers, you know how easy it is to separate a lower ball joint. After removing the ball joint nut, give the steering knuckle a tap with a hammer and the ball joint just pops out. In my experience, that's not how it works in real life.

I have a ball-joint splitter but it's impossible to fit around the ball joint on an i30 FD. I used my trolley jack and some rope to apply force to push the ball joint out, and a dozen hard whacks with a lump hammer finally made it pop out.

Agree.  I'd love to see their Swear Jar behind the cameras.  Good tip, thanks

And, any opportunity to use a lump hammer on a car should not be lost...it's payback for every bruised knuckle and crap endured when working on them.