Archived Ball joint removal?

[jeff95]

I am replacing my upper and lower ball joints on my 95 Ram 2500 2wd. Are there any special tips or tools that would be helpful? I got a ball joint seperator at autozone to remove the spindle. Unfortunately I ripped apart the rubber boots on the ball joints in the process. This whole mess started with new brakes. Found out that one of the bolt hole for the caliper was stripped out. (not by me) So I tried to install a helicoil. Broke the treading tool off in the spindle. Removed the spindle only to rip the rubber boots on the ball joints. This sucks. I'm doing this work in my driveway at night after work. An hour here and an hour there. I'm about to pour gas on it and light a match.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jeff

 

[JFinke]

I think you will find that the ball joint is welded to the a-arm. You can press it out after grinding the three welds that hold it in. I have a complete OTC ball joint press and adapters, ( about $600) but other companies sell some for about $100 that will do. Probably if this will be the only one you do it's easist to pay NAPA $20 to press the new ones in for you. Other than the grinder, welder, torqe wrench and ball joint press it's pretty basic. At $70 a piece you don't want to screw one up though. You can also get polurathane boots for your ball joints if all that's wrong with them is the boot. In the future if you want to keep from ruining your boots, just use a stationary 4lb hammer on one side of the joint, and stike the other side with a 2lb. Not on the stud, but the taperd hole it fit's into. Jake

 

[BWilson]

Definitely get a ball joint press. I picked one up from the local Carquest for around $75. After using it a couple of times I realize that I would have paid 600 gladly due to the time and frustration it saves. It also helps with U joints. My truck is 4 wheel drive and it still only takes about 3 hours from start to finish per side.



Good luck!

 

[WebCrush]

Sounds like someone was using a pickle fork to remove the spindle rather than a 2-jaw puller as is required.



The upper ball joint is pressed into the control arm but you should be able to get it out by using a puller from the bottom--effectively PUSHING the ball joint out of the a-arm. This WILL effectively destroy the b/j but your intention is to replace them anyway.



Putting new ones in will require a machine press.



And, sorry, I don't feel bad for your working conditions. My trucks is half dissasembled on the street in front of my house as well, but we have 20* temps outside and just got 3 inches of snow (ony top of the huge amount we already had).