ball joint press tool

[LMHmedchem]

Well I have a couple of new lower ball joints to put on and now I can find my press. I probably loaned it to someone and it went away, or it's just buried in some spot that will only magically reappear the moment the new on is delivered.

At any rate, I think I need to get a new tool. I don't like borrowing the tool from the parts store if I don't buy any of my parts there. I got the last one at a yard sale so I haven't shopped for one of these.

This is the most typical kind,

Orion Motor Heavy Duty Ball Joint Press Tool Kit with 4WD Adapters ($47)

there are dozens of these on Amazon for about $45 shipped. They seem to have good reviews.

There are also kits like this one,

Ejoyous Ball 21pcs Joint Press Tool Set ($46)

that appears to have more fittings.

Since these all work the same, the main thing is to make sure that whatever I get has the correct fittings for the ball joints on my 2002 XLT 4WD.

Any suggestions?

LMHmedchem

 

[drdoom]

Advance Auto won't loan tools anymore due to the virus, as of a month ago, could be different now. So I bought one at Harbor Freight, was $94USD with tax. It works good and is very sturdy. Minor gripe, the end of the C-frame is slightly out of square, a quick buzz with angle grinder will correct it, but as of yet I haven't bothered.
Like ones I've borrowed in the past, a few sockets are necessary for use as spacers, etc.

 

[LMHmedchem]

Advance Auto won't loan tools anymore due to the virus, as of a month ago, could be different now. So I bought one at Harbor Freight, was $94USD with tax. It works good and is very sturdy. Minor gripe, the end of the C-frame is slightly out of square, a quick buzz with angle grinder will correct it, but as of yet I haven't bothered.
Like ones I've borrowed in the past, a few sockets are necessary for use as spacers, etc.

Did you get the Maddox kit?

Maddox Ball Joint Service Kit for 2WD and 4WD Vehicles ($89)

I have some other Maddox kits that I like, namely my pulley press kit and vacuum/pressure pump kit.

The Maddox kit doesn't look in any way different from the Orion kit from Amazon, though the Orion kit costs $40 less. Do you think there is any reason to spend more than for the Orion kit? I am guessing that all of these are made by the same manufacturer.

LMHmedchem

 

[drdoom]

Yes sir I believe it is Maddox. I would guess the other brands should be ok. I can't remember the brand from the Advance Auto loaner program, but I will say the Maddox is sturdier, as I have now used both for the same job.

 

[LMHmedchem]

I will probably get this one,

Orion Motor Heavy Duty Ball Joint Press Tool Kit with 4WD Adapters ($47 w/shipping)

from Amazon because I won't be able to get to this for another couple of weeks.

Do you think there would be any benefit to getting the EJoyous kit for the extra adapters and such? It looks like it has about 10 more adapters. It looks like Orion sells exactly the same 21 piece kit for $86.

Orion Motor Tech Master Ball Joint Press Kit 21PCS ($86)

LMHmedchem

 

[Number4]

I have the harbor freight one.

 

[drdoom]

The one you are getting looks a lot like the Maddox from HF. Good savings too.

 

[Number4]

on a side note, while trying to remove a u-joint, it dawned on me to try my HF ball joint press. While the heck didn’t I think about this before?