By all means...since you have it apart, replace em.

Good job getting it torn apart!

 

ok, another question... when i asked for differential fluid they gave me Valvoline Gear oil (85W-140). IS this what i am looking for? And where would I find the plug bolt? (remember I'm a newbie)... thanks in advance...

brad

 

ok, so i went to pep boys and they said i did not need a (ball joint) press for mine... just to hammer them out. The lower one had a retaining ring i took of and it hammered out pretty easy. But the upper one ive been beating a good while to no avail... use a bigger hammer? problem is i dont have a vice and im trying not to beat the knuckle into the ground... thanks... and when i put these in, where should i lube them?

 

update:


used a big hammer, a screw driver and a hammer in the 12-6-3-9 fasion, metal bar hammer, rinse wash repeat... adn it finally came out... i did manage to warp the circular hole where the ball joint will go back into... its not to bad and im gonna hammer it close to where it was... is this gonna be bad?

lata

 

You really should of used a press, make sure you use a press to install the new ball joints so you don't damage them.

 

so what was the guy from pep boys talking talking about? did he just know nothing? when he first looked at he said he didnt have a press for it... the bottom one came out no prob... i called around there are several places that won't do it... Sears said they didnt know how much the ball joint would cost, napa didnt have a garage, and pep boys- well... should i just rent the press or call around some more...

i really am sorry for harassing you so much.

 

The guy at Pep Boys must be on drugs! When did ever become a good ideal to spend the day in the driveway beating the hell out of a critical part of the suspension and steering with a hammer, when a ball joint press would of taken 5 minuets? Is this where we decided to cut back on the funds? Anyway I’m sure you’ll still be ok, but I think you would agree now that you would of rather spent the money to rent a small ball joint press, have you seen one? They look like a big C clamp that you use to clamp wood. Do a search on eBay for “Ball joint press” just so you can see what they look like, not all that expensive either. I use mine to do universal joints as well, so you might even want to pick one up to have now that your saving all that labor money. By the way you’ve done good, but the right tools make the job just that much easer, sure you may get a way with doing it with a hammer but you could also end up destroying a part and costing you so much more. The way I look at doing my own repairs is this “Ok its going to cost me 500.00 in labor but if I can do it myself and use that money to buy myself a new shine tool and still save a bunch of money that’s great!!” So now I have the tool for the next time, now I have the tool to help my buddy out, and it’s a good tool to have. Track one down borrow one, buy one, what every but you’ll be glad you did.

Keep it up you’ll be a pro at this soon!

 

thanks for the tips bossind... ill probably just rent the ball joint press from advanced auto... the knuckle (that is what it is called right) doesnt look to bad after some pounding back into shape... if i see that pep boys guy in public i may physically harm him (jk... i think)... i was thinking the whole time that there had to be an easier way to do this... BTW im out a pry bar and a screw driver from the process... guess ill know when i do the other side...

thanks

 

Probably too late but if you have a Harbor Freight in your area they have one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4065
We did both sides on our 80 Bronco last week end and it was on sale for $29 at the store.

Good luck.

 

is there an adapter set for larger vehicles?!? i got the one from auto zone and the C frame just doesnt look big enough to do the job. That and they gave me the wrong part for the tie rod ends... good day over here...

 

k, nevermind... you just have to use it right... last thing for today... what is the little thing that screws into the bottom (flat) part of the ball joint? they gave me two, what do these things do? how tight should they be...

otherwise... all pressed...

 

Doesn't need to be really big, wish I had a picture to send you. Oh here go to this site you'll see a picture on how to use it http://www.off-road.com/ford/bigbron...balljoint.html

 

Papboys is a freaking moron! Be real sure and look close that you didnt crack the knuckle. SHould of definately used a press. Next time...look for MACHINE SHOP in the phone book. they have the presses needed and are are air or hydraulic presses. As for the manual presses...yes, they do make a larger one but to find it is another story. Or for that matter, locate a local 4x4 shop.

 

billybob- knuckle looks good... yeah i used a press to get em back in...

do you have any wisdom on the prior questions though?

- For the differential fluid they pointed me to Valvoline Gear oil (85W-140). IS this what i am looking for? And where would I find the plug bolt?

- What are the little screw in things in the flat side of the ball joint? How tight should they be?

- For the break adhesive- what am i looking for? All i saw was gasket sealer and things of that nature. What should I go with?

- It appears as if the thing that clips the brake shoe in broke off... what to do here?

Thanks in advance...

 

The little screw in things are the zerk fitting for the grease gun. They just need to be threaded in snug. After everything is assembled pump these fittings full of grease until it starts to ooze out of the joint boot. Remember to hit these as a part of your regular maintinance work on your truck. I do mine at oil changes. You will also find these fittings on tie rod ends and u joints on driveshafts, ect.

-Str0ud