Ball Joints & Tool

[SWithrow]

Third set of ball joints gone bad (100k on this set)and I need to know where I can purchase a Ball Joint Press tool with Adapters. I found one and I'm not sure if it will work on my truck. I found it on Amazon for $190. 00 and that seems cheap(price) compared to what others have paid. Any positive suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

Amazon.com: Specialty Products Company 72509 Ball Joint Press with Adapter for RWD/4WD Vehicles

 

[PFranzese]

I have that same ball joint kit. Works pretty well, at least I haven't had any problems with it. Works well for universal joints as well.

 

[EDankievitch]

That's the same kit that Harbor fright sells. I've got it it works there's also an adaptor kit that goes along with it. I had one ball joint stick and I bent the "C" clamp a bit but I found that Long Island truck parts has them on the shelf for a fair price.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I was able to purchase a brand new Snap On BJP-1 at a very good price. I purchased one adapater that is used on the older trucks. The kit handles 95% of all domestic autos, a large amount of imports and has an application guide that shows what tools are needed for each vehicle. Other than the one specialty tool I bought, there are no other adapters needed for the set. It handles ball joints and universals.

 

[SWithrow]

Thanks for the info, I am in travel this week. I will try to tackle this next week.

 

[Shadrach]

I used one similar and found it to be almost too small for a 1 ton, but we made it work. BTW I used Dynatrac ball joints. Shadrach

 

[EDankievitch]

That SnapOn tool is awesome I've used it once But to use it once just is not worth the price... ... Oh, I'm using Carli uppers and Dynatraxx lowers very happy with them so far. Run as far as you can away from MOOG they are not up to the task of our Diesel rucks.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Got mine for $350 including the special adapter for some of the older Rams.



I looked at the various sets and by the time I purchased all of the needed adapters, I would have been at the same price.



The BJP-1 is one heavy duty set. The C-clamp is made to be used with an impact wrench and it is heavy. Plus the various adapters lock on with the snap rings so I don't have to fumble with holding everingthing in place.



I like it.

 

[TCDiesel]

Third set of ball joints gone bad (100k on this set)and I need to know where I can purchase a Ball Joint Press tool with Adapters. I found one and I'm not sure if it will work on my truck. I found it on Amazon for $190. 00 and that seems cheap(price) compared to what others have paid. Any positive suggestions/advice would be appreciated.



Amazon.com: Specialty Products Company 72509 Ball Joint Press with Adapter for RWD/4WD Vehicles

Big tires and off-road = $$$$ in front repairs. . You may need to check out the Carli's.

 

[SWithrow]

Big tires and off-road = $$$$ in front repairs. . You may need to check out the Carli's.

Yeah I know, I will be changing to 285's as soon as my brother sells his 08.

 

[TCDiesel]

He's tired of the 08? Getting New?

 

[SWithrow]

He had a remanufactured 6 speed, drive shaft and u-joints installed and still had the vibration. It was in the shop more than on the road so the dealer worked him a deal (Still has to sell his '08) with a 2010 3500.

 

[SWithrow]

***UPDATE***
I found ball joints on Rockauto.com for $231 for four moog joints including shipping. I called Advanceauto down the street from my house and they wanted $360 for the four joints. I printed the prices from rockauto and Advanceauto charged me the $231. As for going with the moog I can't afford the high dollar joints at this point, plus the joints(moog) that are bad have near a 100k on them.

 

[RBertalotto]

I bent two of the Horrible Freight ball joint presses... ... ... ... ...



I finally biot the bullet and bought the right tool for the job from Amazon. 55 pounds of raw steel!



http://www.amazon.com/OTC-8031-Ball...E52E/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1318329848&sr=8-8



OTC 8031 Ball Joint Set for Jeep/Truck



$270 (Which is about $30 less than when I bought it two years ago!

 

[SWithrow]

Advanceauto has a press, you have to put down a deposit and you have up to 45 days to return it. The use of the tool ends up being free. Can't beat that.

 

[SWithrow]

Shade-tree Mechanic UPDATE-

I assumed the left ball joints were going bad because I drove over an expansion joint on the interstate and experienced the death wobble at 70mph. ( Also, past experience with the DW) I jacked the truck and felt play and a popping noise on the driver side. Assuming the ball joints were bad I purchased 4 moog joints(I figured if the left are bad the right are too).

Today I started to tackle the joints and had difficulty from the start with the left tie rod. Finally got the nut loose and the joint dropped out. (With the tie rod end removed from the knuckle it put the rim back on and tried to move the tire in and out-NO MOVEMENT). Installed a new tie rod end and all funny noises are gone...