Reinstalling upper ball joint

[358R]

Ok, it's out. Just put a hammer to the top of the ball joint and it came out after 5 or 6 good wacks. Then just hammered the ball joint out of the spindle. Now the reinstall process.

 

[Blk2kXLT]

Ah nice, I tried a sledge and just dented the **** out of the lower ball joint.

 

[Stick4503]

Sorry. I've been ttying to get back with you but work got in the way. Next time loosen the castle nut down to the end of the threaded stud. Turn the knuckle to one side or the other. Use your big hammer and strike the knuckle hard were the stud of the ball joint goes through. If this does not work turn the knuckle the other way and strike the other side. This will break stuff loose in that joint and the knuckle will drop. This is why you only loosen the castle nut.

 

[Blk2kXLT]

Thanks for the tips. I did try that but probably should of hit the ball joint with a ton of heat also but I didn't want to melt and kill the joint if it didn't go.

 

[358R]

Sorry. I've been ttying to get back with you but work got in the way. Next time loosen the castle nut down to the end of the threaded stud. Turn the knuckle to one side or the other. Use your big hammer and strike the knuckle hard were the stud of the ball joint goes through. If this does not work turn the knuckle the other way and strike the other side. This will break stuff loose in that joint and the knuckle will drop. This is why you only loosen the castle nut.

Tried that. Didn't work. But doesn't matter, it's out now. Still trying to get the new one back in using the lackluster press kit that O'Reilly offers.

 

[swshawaii]

^ If you have time, put the new ball joints in the freezer first a few hours.

Remove one at a time from the freezer and press them in immediately.

Makes a big difference. Amazing how well a little "shrinkage" works. LOL

 

[358R]

Ok, the SOB is back in. By the way, O'Reilly's is officially on my list for two reasons. 1) for not knowing how to use their own ball joint tools despite me going back to the store with the ball joint and asking them to show me how to do it because the directions don't make sense....and they don't...they're wrong at best (you move the sleeve and cap thingy to the top and the bottom craddle of the clamp happens to be the same diameter as the bottom of the ball joint...thus pressing it in) and 2) I gave them the part number for the Moog ball joint (over the phone) and the gentlemen proceeds to tell me that it goes in from the top, not the bottom. we go back and forth for a minute. he ends by telling me that "well, you got the wrong parts for the wrong car". so, egg on his face. Idiot. Regardless, the only obstacle now is the snap ring. I'll go buy that tool tomorrow. thanks again to all those who commented/contributed/helped.

 

[358R]

Also, I can now safely say it's easier to install a full supercharger (any style) or turbocharger kit than it is to install upper and lower ball joints. And much faster...even not knowing what you're doing. Now, whether that's worthy of a comparison or not, the jury's still out. But I'd say it is...given how daunting it seemed at the time.

$0.02.

 

[358R]

In the event someone may find this helpful in the future...

just noticed that the bottom of my other lower ball joint (not installed yet) says "mount inboard". Searched and found that that's for the grease relief. Apparently it's so that the grease doesn't drip down onto the wheel and ultimately back onto the brakes. Looks like I lucked up and installed it correctly.