ball joint press

[XJensen]

anyone in sacramento area have a ball joint press and or the jeep attachments I could borrow for the day? Befor you say it I rented the autozone press and it sucks.

Josh

 

[5-90]

anyone in sacramento area have a ball joint press and or the jeep attachments I could borrow for the day? Befor you say it I rented the autozone press and it sucks.

Josh

If you were closer to me, I'd let you borrow mine. I don't have the Jeep sleeves, but I got the job done without them.

If you can't find anything, you can buy an OTC press kit from ToolTopia.com (I got mine through Amazon.com) for under a C-note. OTC is a damned good tool brand for speciality stuff like this - not quite Snap-On or Mac, but about 95% of the quality for somewhere around half the cost. Yep - it's made here (don't bother with the HF kit - in the time I spent bending that one, I changed all four ball joints with the OTC...)

 

[XJensen]

thanks for the tip. It looks as if the OTC press is an even C as in zero angle between the two ends. is this true?

I got the joints out just fine but the Autozone press has a hefty angle difference between the two ends and I can get the new joint to seat evenly.

Josh

 

[tommyboy]

If you were closer to me, I'd let you borrow mine. I don't have the Jeep sleeves, but I got the job done without them.

If you can't find anything, you can buy an OTC press kit from ToolTopia.com (I got mine through Amazon.com) for under a C-note. OTC is a damned good tool brand for speciality stuff like this - not quite Snap-On or Mac, but about 95% of the quality for somewhere around half the cost. Yep - it's made here (don't bother with the HF kit - in the time I spent bending that one, I changed all four ball joints with the OTC...)

Haha you bent it too? I didn't even get 1 done with that damn thing!

 

[5-90]

Haha you bent it too? I didn't even get 1 done with that damn thing!

I didn't either - bent the damn beam (1"x2" iron - the Chinese still can't heat-treat worth a damn!)

Yes, the OTC has a 0* angle between the screw ram and receiving end - it's like a G-clamp, but much heavier. Works rather well.

Tips:
- The ball joints can pop loose rather sharply. Have a "blue wrench" (propane torch) handy. Gently heat the outside of the bore where the ball socket is pressed in, and you can get it to release with a good deal less force (and a good deal less surprise!)
- Use a quality never-seez and paint the outside of the new ball socket with the stuff before it goes in. It will install easier this time, and remove easier next time.
- When you put your front end back together, paint the tapers on the studs with never-seez as well - same reason. Don't get any on the threads (the jury is still out on whether you should continue to reduce torque by half with never-seez, or torque as normal. They may have reformulated it, and I'm using old data. So, avoid the conflict altogether.)
- I also prefer to use "mechanic's pins" wherever possible in place of Cotter pins. Why? Because Cotter pins are "use once and toss" dinguses, and field service means the assembly is less secure. Mechanic's pins (they look like safety pins, but they're made from larger CRES wire, don't have a point, and are all one piece) may be reused without incident. I get them at the local hardware store. (Check out the pic - http://www.crocuta.com/U-Tapao/toolkit/toolkit.jpg. See the pin that everything is hanging on? That's what I'm talking about as a "mechanic's pin.")
- Figure out what size castellated nut goes on what stud, and buy extras. I've seen these things split (largely due to the castellations) under enough stress, and it's easier if you have a replacement handy.

 

[Oldmanxj]

I have a set you can barrow. Used them to take out ball joints on a d44 with no problems.
I did soak them with PB Blaster and used a air impact wrench.

Let me know, Don.

 

[XJensen]

Thanks for the good info 5-90.

I'll send you a PM Don

I have a set you can barrow. Used them to take out ball joints on a d44 with no problems.
I did soak them with PB Blaster and used a air impact wrench.

Let me know, Don.

 

[Boatwrench]

Haha you bent it too? I didn't even get 1 done with that damn thing!

x2

 

[blondejoncherokee]

i used the autozone press but i shopped around and bought the jeep attachments. you can borrrow them . i didnt have problems with autozones press but it you need those attachments to make life easy. i also used an old axle shaft and a sedge hammer to help get the old ones out.

 

[XJensen]

Thanks Jon. Not sure if I need them, I borrowed a nice press from Don and am fairly sure I can finish them job.

i used the autozone press but i shopped around and bought the jeep attachments. you can borrrow them . i didnt have problems with autozones press but it you need those attachments to make life easy. i also used an old axle shaft and a sedge hammer to help get the old ones out.