Lets talk Ball Joints...

[Doug]

I removed my t-bars and lower control arms to do my ball joints. I couldnt get the ball joints out while on the truck.

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by Namitey
I removed my t-bars and lower control arms to do my ball joints. I couldnt get the ball joints out while on the truck.

All you have to do is wack em with a BFH from the top.

 

[Doug]

thats all well and good but how do you propose getting them back in? I know you could use a hammer but i dont reccomend it. besides wacking balljoints with a hammer while its on jackstands isnt my idea of fun.

 

[Jon_Herr]

Sears

Sears AutoCenter will give you a lifetime warranty on ball joint replacement.

Pay once - never again. Look in to it.

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by Namitey
thats all well and good but how do you propose getting them back in? I know you could use a hammer but i dont reccomend it. besides wacking balljoints with a hammer while its on jackstands isnt my idea of fun.

Go to autozone and get their "free" ball joint press. Works great. You can use it to get them out too, but a BFH is more fun , provided your stands are in the proper place you won't have any problems.

 

[MyExpWork]

I took the knuckles off the truck, then put them in a vice then hammered the old ones out and hammered the new ones in. Of course during the hammering I was carful and checked everything between each swing. And I did not hit the ball joint directly, I used a pipe to smack the hammer against and put the other end of the pipe, with a small terry cloth between that and the ball joint.

As I said worked great. If that didn't work, I would have taken it to a shop to have them do it.

Brian

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by MyExpWork
I took the knuckles off the truck, then put them in a vice then hammered the old ones out and hammered the new ones in. Of course during the hammering I was carful and checked everything between each swing. And I did not hit the ball joint directly, I used a pipe to smack the hammer against and put the other end of the pipe, with a small terry cloth between that and the ball joint.

As I said worked great. If that didn't work, I would have taken it to a shop to have them do it.

Brian

That works too!

 

[Jon_Herr]

Quick procedure

When you did yours w/ the Autozone press:

What are the steps?
Did you remove the entire spindle?
Is there any trick to getting the half-shaft out?

How much time?

I've seen procedures outlined for doing it here but they seem too elaborate.

I would assume:
0. Jack and Jack-stand vehicle safely.
1. Remove Wheel.
2. Remove Axle Nut.
3. Remove caliper bolts and tie caliper up / out of the way.
4. Support lower control arm on Jack. Just take pressure off of ball joint.
5. Remove Cotter pin from lower ball joint nut, then remove the nut.
6. Use a 'pickle fork' to separate lower ball joint from spindle.
7. Pull spindle off of half-shaft and up / out of the way.
Remove C-clip.
Press out old ball joint / press in new
.
.
.
rinse / repeat.

Correct? Am I missing anything?
Do you have to separate the tie rod end and upper ball joint?

Jon

 

[taxx]

Re: Quick procedure

Originally posted by Jon_Herr
When you did yours w/ the Autozone press:

What are the steps?
Did you remove the entire spindle?
Is there any trick to getting the half-shaft out?

How much time?

I've seen procedures outlined for doing it here but they seem too elaborate.

I would assume:
0. Jack and Jack-stand vehicle safely.
1. Remove Wheel.
2. Remove Axle Nut.
3. Remove caliper bolts and tie caliper up / out of the way.
4. Support lower control arm on Jack. Just take pressure off of ball joint.
5. Remove Cotter pin from lower ball joint nut, then remove the nut.
6. Use a 'pickle fork' to separate lower ball joint from spindle.
7. Pull spindle off of half-shaft and up / out of the way.
Remove C-clip.
Press out old ball joint / press in new
.
.
.
rinse / repeat.

Correct? Am I missing anything?
Do you have to separate the tie rod end and upper ball joint?

Jon

i keep forgetting he did his on a first gen, maybe it is easier to pull it apart. I keep talking second gen SORRY!.

You about got the steps. To get the halfshafts out use a BFSD (big screw driver) and put it between the end of the halfshaft were it goes into the axle tube and pry to pop it lose. It won't move much but now you can pull it out by hand. Time: look at half to a full day if you have never pulled th front apart. if you can get the front apart fast then about 3.5 hours.

You are going to have to seperate the upper to get the half shaft out. The tie rod can stay, you just have to turn the steering wheel all the way in the direction of the side you are working on to get the shaft out. If you have never removed the upper then it will take a lot of poinding with the hammer and fork, but it won't hurt it.

 

[Doug]

The ball joint press I got wasnt a ball joint press i dont think. Im not sure what it was but it was totally useless.