2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission ? for you that have done your own Ball Joints..

[BLively]

i am in the middle of doing my passenger side ball joints, i am on the lower one right now, and man, its is a bugger to get out! is there an easier way? can you grind or drill a hole to weaken the old joint? any advice is very appreciated!!

 

[wildmanben]

My Snap On air hammer pushed mine right out just fine.



Try heating it up or soaking it with PBlaster. You did take the snap ring off the bottom didnt you?

 

[BLively]

ya i sure did get the snap ring. but... have you ever had a dee dee dee moment?? well i know why that thing wouldnt come out, lol, i was pushing it the wrong way! soon as i figured that out, i just knocked it out with my ballpean hammer. . and the pbblaster thing does help a lot!

 

[AFoulk]

a ball joint press helps a lot too. they look like a big c-clamp basically. When I had a joint that was being stuborn, I'd but pressure on it with the clamp, then hit the side of the knuckle until it popped loose. that was usually enough to jar it loose, then I could press it out with the clamp the rest of the way.

 

[bmoeller]

I used a torch on mine, to just warm them up good.

Cut the top one loose, and the bottom dropped out of the axle tube. Used the hyd. press to pop it out. Rigged up my own "driver" to install the new ones. Nothing pretty, but it worked just fine.

 

[DBoyd]

Harbor Frieght has the ball joint installer and remover kit. There is the c-clamp press and a few adapters in one kit for $49? and the rest of the adapters for $49?, so I think I got the whole setup for $80 to $100. I know, I know, it's made in china but it works OK.

 

[JacobsD]

We were tought in school never to use heat on steering parts, especially ball joints and front axle parts. The reason is that you might end up warping or weakoning the knuckle, therefore throwing your alignment way out of wack.



That being said, I have used heat on steering parts when the #@$%! things just don't want to budge with no bad consequences. However the C-Clamp is by far the best way to do it. Just get your big impact gun on there and it should pop it right out.

 

[BLively]

well the weather has been holding me back from getting the drivers side done. the passenger side went really easy as soon as i took time to think about what i was doin... i was actually able to knock the bottom out with my hammer. the top came apart with the ''C'' clamp, so i had to use a socket to finish pressing it out. cant wait to get the other side done, cuz it drives so much better with what little i have done!!