Ball Joint Lifter Tools: Single Stage vs. Double Stage

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Elle - 16 Apr 2006 17:53 GMT

Photos 2-5 (from top to bottom) at site
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/disconnect.html show what I
think are called, among other things, "Two Stage Ball Joint
Lifter" tools. How does the performance of these compare
with the "Single Stage" tools shown at, among many other
sites, http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TA-61900.html ?

The single stage tool is much cheaper but I'm wondering if
I'll be way happier with spending more money for the fancier
tool.

This is for a 91 Civic LX, on which I am slowly rebuilding
the suspension.

I've helped separate all of one ball joint in my life, in an
automotive suspension class where we were told those pickle
forks tend to do more harm than good. We simply used a
hammer and I think the coil spring force to separate the
ball joint on one American make of vehicle.

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dewaynep - 17 Apr 2006 13:40 GMT

Just from the look of it, I wouldn't even attempt to use the $12.00 one.
You will spend more time and frustration trying to get a cheap tool to
work and it isn't worth it. I doubt the cheaper seperator would even
work. You should be able to rent a decent one from your local tool
rental place or Autozone type store.

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dewaynep

http://www.automotiveforums.com

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Elle - 17 Apr 2006 15:05 GMT

dewayne, thanks for sharing your experience.

Unfortunately, all my local Autozones loan is a pickle fork.

I'll check out some rental places, though I confess I am
inclined to gamble about $20 (taking into account shipping)
and try the cheap one. The honda newsgroup people say it
works okay, maybe because Honda Civics are so small in
general that the ball joints aren't a huge chore.

Thanks again.

"dewaynep" <dewaynep.26et7p@no-mx.nodomain.com

> wrote
> Just from the look of it, I wouldn't even attempt to use
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> local tool
> rental place or Autozone type store.

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Elle - 15 May 2006 03:49 GMT

I bought the JTC Auto Tools double stage ball joint
separator at

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Universal-Ball-Joint-Separator-1727_W0QQcmdZViewI
temQQcategoryZ35625QQitemZ4639162195QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

I used only one of the two stages. I ground a shallow hole
where the bolt pin pushes against the arm to minimize
slippage, per someone's suggestion at the Honda newsgroups.
It worked great on my 91 Honda Civic's control arm joint!

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