rental ball joint press 4 x 4 gen 1 info

[Terry]

I am in the process of a complete rebuild of my 4 x 4 87 ranger front end. I have watched youtube videos, searched around on this site, searched other sites, as well read my repair manual. Other than the home made ball joint press and the suggestion of buying a harbor freight press that will work in the tech section, plus the factory tools listed in the book, there is no mention of the information that most rental ball joint presses will not work to install the ball joints on a ttb 4 x 4 front end without an adapter kit. Most ball joint presses you rent at the local auto parts store will have three sleeves, two ends and the clamp. The sleeves are too short for 4 x 4 ball joints for installation. The 4 x 4 ball joints have a longer threaded stem. I looked around the rental tool area of my local auto parts stores web site. I found a adapter set "OEM 27165" that is for this issue. I am not sure about the 2 x 4 ball joints but the lower ball joint sticks out below the knuckle for a snap ring. There is nothing in the press I rented that works for this either. The adapter kit has a sleeve for this too. I wasted hours on this issue thinking I was loosing my mind.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thanks for the info.

 

[AzLizard]

O'Reilly's is 2 boxes. Box 2 contains 4x4 peices.

 

[Denisefwd93]

O'Reilly's is 2 boxes. Box 2 contains 4x4 peices.

It was never mentioned when we rented the press. We knocked the ball joints out of the knuckles with a hammer and pipe, but we did use the press to put them in. all in all went well, it is hard work even with, two people!

 

[AzLizard]

It was never mentioned when we rented the press. We knocked the ball joints out of the knuckles with a hammer and pipe, but we did use the press to put them in. all in all went well, it is hard work even with, two people!

First thing they ask me here.
2 or 4 wheel drive

 

[Denisefwd93]

First thing they ask me here.
2 or 4 wheel drive

We don't have O'Riley out this way. They probably have more knowledge than advance and or AutoZone.

But it's good you posted the information here. It is physically hard work, anything that makes it easier is a good thing!

 

[Terry]

O'Reilly's is 2 boxes. Box 2 contains 4x4 peices.

That is where I got mine. The problem with these stores is they are only as good as the people that work there. They don't list it that way on the web site. That would have saved me a lot of time.

 

[adsm08]

I always get the big kit from Advance. The only time I ever had a problem with that one was trying to do some leaf spring bushings because the clamp didn't fit over the spring eye.

 

[adsm08]

We don't have O'Riley out this way. They probably have more knowledge than advance and or AutoZone.

It really depends on the store. The Advance right here in Dillsburg has some really good, knowledgeable guys working there, and I know most of them pretty well. The Autozone and the Advance the next town over are both full of goons. I am constantly having to walk employees at both stores through operating their own systems, or instructing them on how to look up generic parts like freeze plugs, without selecting a vehicle.

The Autozone where I used to live had some pretty good guys there, but I have been told by a former AGM from Autozone that the company's hiring strategy basically boils down to "Hire the most barely qualified people you can find, start them at the lowest pay you can, and hope they can learn the job and products".

 

[AzLizard]

It shows from the idiots behind the counter.