Ball Joint Press in question
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 147
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From: Lebanon, Oregon
Ball Joint Press in question
I baught a complete nuckle assembly from a local yard and I am rebuilding it so I dont have any down time for my '99 PSD 4x4.
One question I had was i pressed in new ball joints and they both were set up for a snap ring on the lower side of the joint but only the lower(larger) ball joint went through far enough to utilize the snap ring. Did I not press the upper in far enough or does this not use the snap ring to hold it in? It seemed like the upper joint would not go any further.
By the way, Merry Christmas!
One question I had was i pressed in new ball joints and they both were set up for a snap ring on the lower side of the joint but only the lower(larger) ball joint went through far enough to utilize the snap ring. Did I not press the upper in far enough or does this not use the snap ring to hold it in? It seemed like the upper joint would not go any further.
By the way, Merry Christmas!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
Looks like there's only one on the lower ball joint. http://www.frontiernet.net/~jmray/F250BallJoints.htm I don't agree with using an impact wrench on the ball joint press, but that link has a lot of good pics... I only recall the lowers having snap rings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 8
From: WV
Looks like there's only one on the lower ball joint. http://www.frontiernet.net/~jmray/F250BallJoints.htm I don't agree with using an impact wrench on the ball joint press, but that link has a lot of good pics... I only recall the lowers having snap rings.
As for the impact wrench, what problem do you have with using it? Damage to the press? Or the joints? Or the knuckle? Or something else?
I suppose you could clamp the knuckle in a vice and wrestle with it, and the press, and the adapters, and a long breaker bar, but the impact is so smooth and easy it was a breeze. No problems using it what so ever, the worst part was the noise
For the record, I'm not the only person to recommend this method... fairly widely used actually. I did buy the OTC press instead of the harbor freight one though so maybe you could break that one with an impact...?Note, I do not recommend starting the new ball joints in with the impact. Definitely want to start them with a normal ratchet. Once they're in 1/4" or so, there's no problem with carefully driving them home with the impact.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
Yep, no snap ring on my uppers either.
As for the impact wrench, what problem do you have with using it? Damage to the press? Or the joints? Or the knuckle? Or something else?
I suppose you could clamp the knuckle in a vice and wrestle with it, and the press, and the adapters, and a long breaker bar, but the impact is so smooth and easy it was a breeze. No problems using it what so ever, the worst part was the noise For the record, I'm not the only person to recommend this method... fairly widely used actually. I did buy the OTC press instead of the harbor freight one though so maybe you could break that one with an impact...?
Note, I do not recommend starting the new ball joints in with the impact. Definitely want to start them with a normal ratchet. Once they're in 1/4" or so, there's no problem with carefully driving them home with the impact.
As for the impact wrench, what problem do you have with using it? Damage to the press? Or the joints? Or the knuckle? Or something else?
I suppose you could clamp the knuckle in a vice and wrestle with it, and the press, and the adapters, and a long breaker bar, but the impact is so smooth and easy it was a breeze. No problems using it what so ever, the worst part was the noise
For the record, I'm not the only person to recommend this method... fairly widely used actually. I did buy the OTC press instead of the harbor freight one though so maybe you could break that one with an impact...?Note, I do not recommend starting the new ball joints in with the impact. Definitely want to start them with a normal ratchet. Once they're in 1/4" or so, there's no problem with carefully driving them home with the impact.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 0
The top ball joint part # must be used on another application where the snap ring groove is used. . . because it does have it. . . but isn't used on the uppers of this knuckle. Funny the ball joint press I bought didn't fit ours! I have to get real creative when pressing mine out
Timmy
Timmy
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Try tapping on the knuckle where the ball joint goes through. That's how we got mine to press in and out. The other option is warming the knuckle with a torch.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 780
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From: merrimack valley
i have the otc tool and use my impact and also hit it with a 5# bfh
a good 16 yrs old and still works fine
a good 16 yrs old and still works fine
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: merrimack valley
The top ball joint part # must be used on another application where the snap ring groove is used. . . because it does have it. . . but isn't used on the uppers of this knuckle. Funny the ball joint press I bought didn't fit ours! I have to get real creative when pressing mine out
Timmy
Timmy
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Haha, yeah, just warm, NOT cherry red or anything close to that. U-joints are fun with torches. We blew up two of them once....
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Anybody ever watch Kwikkordead, who is a professional at turning wrenches, replace the ball joints on a VW Transporter?
He has a couple of videos on YouTube demonstrating how he uses a ball joint press.
Here's one to watch. Notice any familiar techniques?
YouTube - 1979 VW Bus Upper Ball Joint Remove
Pop
He has a couple of videos on YouTube demonstrating how he uses a ball joint press.
Here's one to watch. Notice any familiar techniques?
YouTube - 1979 VW Bus Upper Ball Joint Remove
Pop
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I almost put an impact wrench on a Mac Tool ball joint press my stepdad had and he just about kicked my *** up and down the garage. Then I was put through hell calculating stresses applied to threads during a semester at school. I like to feel what's going on when using that tool. I really got into turning a 4-way to get my sway bar links out and could feel it bind or catch. I gave the end link a good crack with a dead blow and it shot the link out of the eye like a bullet. The OTC press has unified threads and I'll stick with a 4-way and breaker bar.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Now you guys have me thinking. I am planing to do my ball joint in the the next few days. Should I be concerned about possible damage the press or the knuckle. I will be renting the press from autozone. and borrowing an impactgun from my friend. Will I be ok if I follow the above mentioned ratchet first and then be careful with the impact. How about lowering the torque of the impact gun?
Jrod
Jrod
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
From: Fort Campbell, KY
Now you guys have me thinking. I am planing to do my ball joint in the the next few days. Should I be concerned about possible damage the press or the knuckle. I will be renting the press from autozone. and borrowing an impactgun from my friend. Will I be ok if I follow the above mentioned ratchet first and then be careful with the impact. How about lowering the torque of the impact gun?
Jrod
Jrod
That AZ tool will already have had WAY more abuse then any tool should endure. You'll probably HAVE to use an impact because the threads will be so buggered up.It's not the torque of the impact as much as the "impact" itself that causes injury to the threads. When you turn by hand, it's a smooth application of force, that tool hama-jams it.
