Upper ball joint tool

[BDH]

I have a new idea for a cheap tool to remove those stubborn upper ball joints. After about 3 hours of cursing and busting my knuckles trying to use massive channel locks, a pipe wrench and even my bench vice, I decided to search TDR. I found very little for alternative tools. So I went out to my scrap metal pile. I measured the flat spots on the top of the ball joint and they are 2 1/8". I just happened to have a 6" piece of 2 1/8 I. D. square tube. I tapped it down over the top of the ball joint for a snug fit, attached a pipe wrench and a 3 foot breaker bar. AMAZING!! 5 minutes later I was installing the new ball joint!!!



Good Luck!!!!!

 

[JGrefenstette]

man that sounds pretty slick. do you have any pictures?? i was did some uppers and lowers on a friends 93 F350, with the dana 60 front axle. it was an old farm truck with about 350,000 mi on it. i had to the torch and cut them out. they can get REAL tight. last night at work i was replacing a drag link on an International 8100 truck with the little ISM Cummins, that had over 1,480,000 miles on it. you wanna talk about stuborn. hahha a sledge hammer and a lot or muscle/anger finally did the trick.

 

[Greenleaf]

I have had some "hands-on" with these and this is my opinion... ... ...



I have the special tool required for R&R. I didn't like how the joints thread into the pressed steel arm. They are basicly cross threaded. I took the arm to the alignment shop and they don't mess with that stuff. Huh? So took it to the truck frame shop and had them do this as well as all that other press work required to R&R all that other stuff on the upper/lower arms. (Thats tons of work even if you have the very large press in your shop! You'll be there anyway. wink wink)



In short, (this is only my experience working with these trucks) it is not worth your time to grunt and fret over doing this particular job. I rank it up there with rebuilding a belt tensioner.



Others may feel different. That tool does look cool in my tool box though... ... ... .

 

[dpuckett]

If ya work fer the govimint, I guess ya can afford to pay to have it dun.



For those who arent as financially endowed and/or cant find a competent local shop to do it, I have found an impact wrench on the socket very effective.



Daniel

 

[mysteryman]

GUYS ... ... there is a special socket made for removing and installing Chrysler ball joints. . It can be ordered from any and all of the tool companies. Mac, Snapon, Matco ect. . There are 2 sizes large and small. . Our trucks use the large. You will also need a 3/4 impact wrench ..... These sockets and the ball joints that they fit have been used since about 1955 on most all of the rear wheel drive cars we built up till 1989... And the trucks up till 93... . This is very common knowledge. Every front end mechanic should be well aware...



It is also well outlined in the DODGE factory service manuals. . When in doubt ... read the manual. .

I guess Daniel is the only one on here that knew all of this... I just could not let this one go by with out saying anything... ... . improperly done front end work is what gets people killed...

 

[Greenleaf]

GUYS ... ... there is a special socket made for removing and installing Chrysler ball joints.....





I guess Daniel is the only one on here that knew all of this... I just could not let this one go by with out saying anything... ... . improperly done front end work is what gets people killed...

Right. Exactly. so, replacing ALL the parts and the heavy truck/frame shop performing the press work to R&R all the parts would constitue, what? Improper technique?



Maybe I missed something in here, but replacing all the parts was what I had mentioned, including the proper tool... ... ... ...



I suppose one could replace just the top joint, but it doesn't carry the weight. The bottom one is pressed in. The lower arm's crack and the joints loosen. so, as I mentioned prior, you take the lower arm to the frame shop, take the upper as well and have them R&R that upper joint. Don't need to spend your valuable time messing with making a special tool.



If your lower arm be cracked, any of the diesel lower arms will work be it a 1990 250 or a 1993 350.