Help needed, Stucked in a lower ball join replacement

[raymondc]

I really need some help here. The truck is still on the stands.

iI am in the process of replacing my lower ball joints. Hammered the old ball joint out without any problem, but kinda stuck in the installation process. I did not use a press since I couldn't find one in any auto part store nearby. So I just tried to hammer the new join into the hole, by using a jack to support from under the new joint and hammering the lower control arm. But no matter how hard I hammered, it seems the new joint just stuck in the half way. Does anyone here have the same problem when you do the installation? Or does anyone know an easy way to put the new ball join in?

By the way, I use a MOOG lower ball joint. And someone on this forum mentioned they changed their manufacturing so the newer joint is harder to install. Is this true? I really don't want to take off my lower control arm just to press the ball joint in.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Don't take a chance damaging the new ball joint. Autozone has a press which you could rent for free with a deposit.

 

[Turdle]

You really do need to press those in

 

[BrooklynBay]

It's a worth while investment to buy one if you ever want to do more work on your vehicle in the future. They are good for U joints as well ball joints. Check my product review: http://www.explorerforum.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/293/cat/500

 

[KPT]

The autozone press isn't big enough for the new moog design (same one that is in that link). You can't fit both cups in the press. I ended up using the arm from a weigh distributing hitch, put one end on the top of the control arm and the other on a floor jack. Didn't need the cup on the top to press it in then.

 

[Lizard]

The autozone press isn't big enough for the new moog design (same one that is in that link). You can't fit both cups in the press. I ended up using the arm from a weigh distributing hitch, put one end on the top of the control arm and the other on a floor jack. Didn't need the cup on the top to press it in then.

JL, I have the Harbor Freight ball joint press and used it without any fit problems. It looks like it's identical to the Autozone unit, but I could be wrong. Raymond, you can try putting the ball joints in the freezer for a couple hours. I did this and could push the joints in most of the way by hand, but I finished seating the joints with the press tool.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Maybe the ball joints on the Explorer are much larger than on my van. I just did this job on my 89 using this press, and Moog ball joints from Autozone. I have the Harbor Freight press. It was good for getting the old joint out, but broke while pressing the new joint in (and damaged the new joint in the process). It was the first time using it too. The press in the above link worked without any problems.

 

[budwich]

as suggested, try find a press but also as suggested try variance in temperature. Cool down the new ball joint and heat up the knucle.

 

[KPT]

I don't know when the design changed, but the autozone press use to be fine. The last moog BJ I changed though had been updated and didn't fit.

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188225

 

[raymondc]

Thanks, guys. I got a set of press and the ball joint is in the frig. So I should be able to install it this time.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Where did you get the set from? Is it rented or bought? What brand is it?

 

[CDW6212R]

Good luck there Raymond, you have me worried now. I bought a press kit for some $70 I believe, I hope it works for my work vehicle.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I used the press for my Moog lowers- fit no problem. They are larger, but the rings in the press kit are big enough.

When I installed my first ball joints (without a press), I started the castle nut on the end of the stud to protect the threads, then raised a jack to support it. Hammered away and the joint went in- a small hammer won't cut it- you need a good sized shop hammer or mini sledge.

 

[raymondc]

OK! Good news here!
I got the lower ball joint pressed in, using the AutoZone ball joint press. I cooled off the right side joint by puting it into the frig for a half day, it went right in with the help from the press. I didn't cool off the left side joint because it was stuck in the A-arm the day before, so I just used the press. It was a little bit harder, but with a breaker bar it wasn't a problem at all.

The AutoZone press worked like a charm. It is a very tough and well built tool and shouldn't break down. Someone on this forum mentioned that their press from another store broke at the first try, those tools are probably not very well built anyway.

Looking back at my entire two-day project (new front shocks, new sway bar bushing, new sway bar end link, new lower ball joints, new upper control arm with ball joint), the lower ball joint really wasn't the most difficult part. Depending on how often your truck was taken apart, any front-end part could be harder to take off than the lower ball joint. In my case, my entire front end was original factory parts with 130k on them. So basically everything is rusted together and every thing that I took off required hammering. (even the sway bar end links I have to cut then into halfs because the rubber tube was stuck on the metal shaft.) Having said these, the lower ball joint was actually the easist part. Of course, information on this forum helps a lot! So, thanks, guys! Oh, CDW6212R, these is a short video clip on youtube.com. In it, a guy showd how to took off the lower ball joint in 6mins, I highly recommend it.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I was the one with the Harbor Freight press which broke on the first try. It worked perfectly when I removed the lower ball joint, but broke installing it (and broke the new ball joint in the process).

 

[CDW6212R]

Did you not place a link to a site where you found the tool? I was browsing for info on ball joints, and ended up buying the kit somewhere else. The price was good and I knew that the tool would be handy more in the future.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I got it from WWW.Eppys.Com. I also have a product review on it: http://www.explorerforum.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/293/cat/500