harbor freight ball joint press questions...

vrytired · 11-09-2006, 06:03 PM

anyone know which one i need to do the balljoints on my 92 4x4? they make a few different models and i'm not sure what size i need.

*RockRanger* · 11-09-2006, 09:16 PM

I got the one that goes on sale for $30. Works good. I have heard that they have additional parts available for them that woul make it easier. However you can do them with the stanard cheap one they sell.

vrytired · 11-10-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockRanger

I got the one that goes on sale for $30. Works good. I have heard that they have additional parts available for them that woul make it easier. However you can do them with the stanard cheap one they sell.

ty

spdy0001 · 11-10-2006, 08:42 AM

Why buy one? Go to autozone or advanced auto and get one for free

410Fortune · 11-10-2006, 09:40 AM

after renting one from Autozone for a $90 deposit, about 4 times I finally bought the kit from Harbor Freight for $24.99 so much easier just to have it around anytime you need to do u joints or ball joints

*Dan Whitaker* · 11-10-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 410Fortune

after renting one from Autozone for $90 about 4 times I finally bought the kit from Harbor Freight for $24.99 so much easier just to have it around anytime you need to do u joints or ball joints

Hell for $109 right now you can get a 12 ton hydraulic press from Harbor Freight.

I wish I had the $$$ for one now but they run a sale on them 3-4 times a year.

410Fortune · 11-10-2006, 10:25 AM

my 10 ton floor jack was $24.99 as well on sale a couple of weeks ago,came with extra O rings
The world is a different place since the put a HF 2 miles from my house, before that it was a 30 mile treck all the way across denver to get to one

Glacier991 · 11-10-2006, 07:47 PM

HF sells the basic knockoff of the OTC tool, often on sale. It comes with a basic set of receiving cups and pushing pieces that will do most cars. The trucks need some slightly different cups and pushers, and just as OTC offers a bigger assortment of those, so does HF. On sale the combination of both is about $60. Hellofadeal if you ask me.

I have the 12 ton press and my bitch about it is that it racks slightly. I wish it was the model with an A frame at the top. Is it useful and a good buy? yes, but with some serious reservations. I'd rather find one that was more rigid and has a gauge on it. But it is nearly useless for ball joints unless you remove the arm from the vehicle. Even then you need appropriate cups to receive and push.

Conclusion: The ball joint tool is worth its weight in gold when you need it for the installation/removal of ball joints. Oh a tip, grease the tip of the screw before use with some high pressure EP grease, and make sure the threads are clean and lubricated. I wipe them clean after a use and put it away, and relube then before the next use.

11-09-2006, 06:03 PM	#1
vrytired Wannabe Elite Explorer billerica,massachussets '92 XLT Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 140 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	harbor freight ball joint press questions... anyone know which one i need to do the balljoints on my 92 4x4? they make a few different models and i'm not sure what size i need.

11-09-2006, 09:16 PM	#2
RockRanger Elite Ranger Fresno CA 86 ranger no more Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,272 Vehicle Specs	I got the one that goes on sale for $30. Works good. I have heard that they have additional parts available for them that woul make it easier. However you can do them with the stanard cheap one they sell. __________________ 93 ranger rock stock.

11-10-2006, 09:40 AM	#5
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,097 Vehicle Specs	after renting one from Autozone for a $90 deposit, about 4 times I finally bought the kit from Harbor Freight for $24.99 so much easier just to have it around anytime you need to do u joints or ball joints __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted Last edited by 410Fortune; 11-10-2006 at 10:24 AM.

11-10-2006, 10:25 AM	#7
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,097 Vehicle Specs	my 10 ton floor jack was $24.99 as well on sale a couple of weeks ago,came with extra O rings The world is a different place since the put a HF 2 miles from my house, before that it was a 30 mile treck all the way across denver to get to one __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

11-10-2006, 08:42 AM	#4
spdy0001 Wannabe Elite Explorer New Cumberland / PA 91 Sport / 5 speed Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 186 Vehicle Specs	Why buy one? Go to autozone or advanced auto and get one for free

11-10-2006, 07:47 PM	#8
Glacier991 EF Tranny Guru Sacramento, CA 95827 1992 XLT Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 9,823 Vehicle Specs	HF sells the basic knockoff of the OTC tool, often on sale. It comes with a basic set of receiving cups and pushing pieces that will do most cars. The trucks need some slightly different cups and pushers, and just as OTC offers a bigger assortment of those, so does HF. On sale the combination of both is about $60. Hellofadeal if you ask me. I have the 12 ton press and my bitch about it is that it racks slightly. I wish it was the model with an A frame at the top. Is it useful and a good buy? yes, but with some serious reservations. I'd rather find one that was more rigid and has a gauge on it. But it is nearly useless for ball joints unless you remove the arm from the vehicle. Even then you need appropriate cups to receive and push. Conclusion: The ball joint tool is worth its weight in gold when you need it for the installation/removal of ball joints. Oh a tip, grease the tip of the screw before use with some high pressure EP grease, and make sure the threads are clean and lubricated. I wipe them clean after a use and put it away, and relube then before the next use.