Oh I'll say it was quite a job. But now that I know exactly what it takes it would probably only take me half a day including the trip to the machine shop. But fair warning....don't bother with the ball joint press you rent from Autozone. IT REALLY SUCKS! I have used em on the 2wd vehicals, but they don't fit the larger 4x4 steering knuckles. But DO....use at least a 3 or 4 lb sledge for the pickle fork. If you use a regular hammer it will work but add about 2 hrs on to the job each side. I borrowed a 12 lb sledge from a neighbor and only took 6 hits to drop the knuckle on the left side. the right side took about 2 hours with a standard hammer and I was gettin mean with it.

 

Yep that's why you just get a ball joint seperator for the air chisel/hammer like I got! Sure makes life a lot easier!

 

Weird, I could pull and press new ball joints in a knuckle in 10 minutes with AutoZone’s press. Granted once I figured the stupid thing out

 

yea i had no problems with the autozone press either, i even used it when i replaced the axle shaft joints made life really easy and didn't cost a dime in the end

 

I was going to buy one of those air chisel things. however, I didn't have a compressor yet

 

Well then maybe you got a larger one than I did...cause what I had...wouldnt fit with the receiver cup. Ah well...its done...no biggie.