ball joints ... ?!

[MMIXJ]

went to get an alignment and the shop couldn't do it because the upper ball joints are shot... they want $450 to replace (uppers only!).

my Haynes manual says a special tool is required and so it has to be taken to a dealer/shop.

am i SOL?

(dana 30, non-disco)

thanks.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Terry,

Yeah, they require a large "C" clamp looking tool with special sized cups to press out the ball joints. You can rent these tools at Advance Auto and some Car Quest stores. Or many rental stores carry these special tools - the stores that rent cement mixers, carpet cleaners, chain saws, roto-rooters, etc.

They can be a bitch to get out - be prepared to smack the knuckle around the ball joint with a big hammer to get them loosened up.

Put the new ones in the deep freeze before installing them and they should go in a bit easier.

Or, you could pay me $350 to do 'em...........

 

[MMIXJ]

thanks for the reply troy. gotta think about it overnight...

just put a new starter, new alternator, and new power steering line in my wife's car (that was fun)... of course all this happens at the same time and after being laid off.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

thanks for the reply troy. gotta think about it overnight...

just put a new starter, new alternator, and new power steering line in my wife's car (that was fun)... of course all this happens at the same time and after being laid off.

Dude, I was kidding about the $350....... I'll do it for free if I can harass ya the whole time....... Terr-i.

Seriously though, if you are in a pinch and wanna drag yer junk down to Littleton, we could get 'er dun.

 

[planefixer]

Terry, take Troy up on his offer to help.Ball joints are a PITA especially if you've never done them before.If you're thinking about doing just the uppers I'd recommend doing the lowers as well.

 

[caglezxj]

Harbor Freight sells the press you need for 29.99 . You can buy it online if you would like. Or rent it from a Auto Supply house. It took me 3 hours to do one side. This was yesterday. I have a big brass hammer that worked well for pounding on the ball joints. The only time I used the press was to install the lower ball joint.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Hmmmmmm........ Should we be at all offended that he also went to Colorado4x4 to solicit help?

 

[Fred]

Yes, of course. :bawl:

Fred

 

[philip_g]

Hmmmmmm........ Should we be at all offended that he also went to Colorado4x4 to solicit help?

if it'll console you I'll bring mine over tomorrow and you can do mine instead :spin1: