b4000 4x4 front upper and lower ball joint install..?

[Jmazda94]

My driver's side upper and lower ball joints are going out and the machanic says time to replace but he was 600$ for 3 hours of work to do it..way too much, so I am wondering if anyone has a good way to get the ball joints out and the new ones in..? He says you need a press or a speacial tool..I would like to do them myself but not sure how to go about it..Any Suggestions??

Cheers!

 

[brinker88]

Most auto parts stores have free tool rentals these days with a deposit you get back when you return the tool. Personally I just use a ball peen hammer and a punch to remove them and a large C-clamp and socket to re-install them. (It helps if you put the ball joints in the freezer overnight altho the wife might not like that idea...)

TTB ball joints are fairly straight forward to do. Make sure you don't move your alignment bushing. I would suggest an alignment afterwards either way.

 

[PanamaExpat]

I did mine basically by the same method as Brinker about a year and a half ago when I got the truck. Wasn't that bad of a job. If I recall I made good use of the acetylene torch for help in getting rusted bolts loose and getting old parts out. Took me a day to do both sides.

 

[brinker88]

^ For what it's worth, I wouldnt use ANY heat on your steering parts. It can ruin the integrity of the steel in the knuckle.

 

[Andy D]

Just breezing through and I'm picking up good news. Anytime I can use a hammer on a car..

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

^ For what it's worth, I wouldnt use ANY heat on your steering parts. It can ruin the integrity of the steel in the knuckle.

Bah, it's done all the time.

 

[Jmazda94]

so a large C-clamp would work to pop them back in? Seems too good to be true.

 

[brinker88]

If you have a massive socket set, yes ( 1-7/16" up to 2.5" ) That's all I've ever used

 

[adsm08]

so a large C-clamp would work to pop them back in? Seems too good to be true.

Have you ever seen a ball-joint press?

It's a large C-clamp setup to be run with an impact gun and a bunch of large socket-like cups.

 

[brinker88]

^ Exactly. Mine was free tho

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Super Master balljoint set...$750
Impact gun............................$350
Dead blow ball-peen............$45
Snapring pliers.....................$40
Wrench set............................$450
Socket set.............................$400

Punching the guy who says his Ball-joint replacement cost too much.... Priceless

Just my $0.02... Please go on with your ghetto repair...

 

[brinker88]

Super Master balljoint set...$750
Impact gun............................$350
Dead blow ball-peen............$45
Snapring pliers.....................$40
Wrench set............................$450
Socket set.............................$400

Punching the guy who says his Ball-joint replacement cost too much.... Priceless

Just my $0.02... Please go on with your ghetto repair...

1.) I don't know where you get your numbers. I bought my IR 1/2" impact for less than $160 and it's more than capable to do the job. Wrenches and socket sets exceeding $800? Harbor Freights tools are (again) MORE than capable of doing this job. Really?

2.) Most people already have these tools on hand.

3.) "Ghetto" isn't even the word for it. There is absolutely nothing Ghetto about doing balljoints the way I have described.

Please remove the stick from your ass so we can continue to help people that aren't MADE of money and can't afford gold plated tools and can't pay someone else to do it. Thank you.


Ghetto....

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

...well that was taken the wrong way....


Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jmazda94]

little harsh there on that one, but I got your point. So just beat the old ones out, large C-clamp with large Socket..place socket on top of ball joint and C-clamp on top of that and press em in..? That is how I am understanding it..

 

[brinker88]

little harsh there on that one, but I got your point. So just beat the old ones out, large C-clamp with large Socket..place socket on top of ball joint and C-clamp on top of that and press em in..? That is how I am understanding it..

You'd be better off going to the parts store for the free tool rental. Less frustrating that way. Good luck saving money and feeling accomplished when you're finished.