01 Tracker Lower Control Arm Replacement, HELP!

[tmrastatter]

I had a terrible squeak in the Driver Side front end that I diagnosed as the Lower Control Arm Ball Joint. I tried to Lube it with Oil & Grease but it still squeaked. The Chevy Shop Manual does not mention that I need to pull the front axle to remove the control arm, but it there is not enough clearance between the CV Joint and the control arm to lower it out of the steering spindle. Does anybody have any luck removing the arm without pulling the axle? I ordered the special tool to disassemble the front hub (J37781, looks like a socket with four studs), but if I can do it without pulling the axle I would be much happier

[tshawgreatlakes]

On the drivers side you can unbolt the axle at the front diff ,un bolt the top of the strut, unhook sway bar, unhook tierod end and lower the strut and spring (using a floor jack) and then you can unbolt the ball joint from the control arm and front hub. It can be done. TShaw

[tmrastatter]

I am unclear when you say unbolt the axle at the front differential, I don't think you are talking about tearing the whole front hub apart. If I unbolt the axle at the front diff. does the whole CV Joint assembly slide out of the front hub?
Thank You

[tshawgreatlakes]

The drivers side front axle is bolted to a flange that sticks out of the front diff. look under the front where the axle goes to the front diff and you will see three bolts that hold the drivers side axle to the stub axle that sticks out of the front diff. The axle will still be hooked to the hub The strut,axle and hub cand now be moved enough to get ball joint out of the control arm. You may have to remove the calliper if you do not have enough room to get the ball joint out. You do not have to take the big nut off to get the front axle out of the hub, when you take your outer front hub off you will see a clip, that is all that holds the akle in the front hub. TShaw

[fordem]

Originally Posted by tshawgreatlakes

The drivers side front axle is bolted to a flange that sticks out of the front diff.

This assumes a left hand drive vehicle - the OP hasn't told us where he is so it may not be so in his case.

[tmrastatter]

Cleveland Ohio, Left Hand Drive it is. Thanks again, I removed the C-Clip last night In my feeble attempt to pull apart the hub.