lower ball joints
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Although I have not done this job; I have read that the ball joint press from Autozone works pretty good. Better yet is to take the entire control arm to a shop that can press out the old ones and the new ones in...charge was around $20.
Good luck
Good luck
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Are you referring to breaking the lower ball joint away from the hub? If you are there is a Kent Moore tool spec'd in the manual for this job but it does not work. It is too short. What you can do is get a long bolt and nut that just fits between the upper and lower ball joint studs. Loosen the lower ball joint bolt until is is flush with the end of the ball joint stud. I used some 1/2" deep sockets stacked on top of each other and ran the bolt through the sockets. The head of the bolt rested against the bottom of the upper ball joint stud, the bottom socket against the lower ball joint bolt. The threaded on nut on the bolt rested on a thick washer atop the socket stack. I used a box wrench to hold the bolt head and an open end wrench on the nut. You don't need to wrench much to break the ball joint loose. Its kind of a kluge (I don't know how to translate that into the King's English) set up but it worked for me. Good luck.
Larry
Larry
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
The ball joint tool from Autozone won't work. --->
It can get the BJ's out, but will probably never get them back in. Plus you'll have to do some grinding on it to make it fit inside the aluminum control arm properly. I didn't figure autozone would mind.
Save yourself the hassle and remove the control arms and have someone with a hydraulic press remove and reinstall them. I bought one of these for balljoints and doing some of the bushings.
And be careful what brand you get. I started with Napa, they were about .010" too big and were going to break either my 10-ton press, or the control arm holes. Others have reported some of the off-brands not fitting also. Plus this is not a place you want to save money.
I bought Moog and they fit perfectly. I've only read one report where someone couldn't fit them in.
Buy either Moog or Spicer from rockauto.com, they're your cheapest source at about $75 each. Usually someone will have a 5% discount code if you ask, or just start a thread asking for it.
For actually seperating the BJ from the knuckle, where it attaches with the castle nut, go to Autozone and rent a "pitman arm puller".
It will fit into there just right. If you have a 84-87 you have to load up the control arm with your jack and remove the shock/swaybar attachment plate to get the tool on. Pop it loose, then slowly lower the jack. Make sure the car is lifted high enough, the spring will arc down pretty far and you need further room to push the control arm down to pop it loose from the spring.
And for goddsake, whatever you do, don't use a pickle fork on aluminum parts.
It can get the BJ's out, but will probably never get them back in. Plus you'll have to do some grinding on it to make it fit inside the aluminum control arm properly. I didn't figure autozone would mind.Save yourself the hassle and remove the control arms and have someone with a hydraulic press remove and reinstall them. I bought one of these for balljoints and doing some of the bushings.
And be careful what brand you get. I started with Napa, they were about .010" too big and were going to break either my 10-ton press, or the control arm holes. Others have reported some of the off-brands not fitting also. Plus this is not a place you want to save money.
I bought Moog and they fit perfectly. I've only read one report where someone couldn't fit them in.
Buy either Moog or Spicer from rockauto.com, they're your cheapest source at about $75 each. Usually someone will have a 5% discount code if you ask, or just start a thread asking for it.
For actually seperating the BJ from the knuckle, where it attaches with the castle nut, go to Autozone and rent a "pitman arm puller".
It will fit into there just right. If you have a 84-87 you have to load up the control arm with your jack and remove the shock/swaybar attachment plate to get the tool on. Pop it loose, then slowly lower the jack. Make sure the car is lifted high enough, the spring will arc down pretty far and you need further room to push the control arm down to pop it loose from the spring.And for goddsake, whatever you do, don't use a pickle fork on aluminum parts.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Apr 30, 2007 at 05:21 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: State of Confusion
I got the BJ back in using the Autozone puller/press. However, I agree with Central Coaster about the hydraulic press method. Removing the control arm and doing it with a press is probably the easiest way to do it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
I've installed lower ball joints with the c-clamp (pictured above) and with a press. removing the arm and using a press is much much much easier!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena Maryland
I used the C-Clamp in the picture on my 93, It worked for removing and installing the lower ball joint. I looked into removing the lower control arm, but the spring stopped me. I have no Idea how to get that apart without the compressor in the FSM.
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Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
The ball joint tool from Autozone won't work. ---> It can get the BJ's out, but will probably never get them back in. Plus you'll have to do some grinding on it to make it fit inside the aluminum control arm properly. I didn't figure autozone would mind.
Save yourself the hassle and remove the control arms and have someone with a hydraulic press remove and reinstall them. I bought one of these for balljoints and doing some of the bushings.
And be careful what brand you get. I started with Napa, they were about .010" too big and were going to break either my 10-ton press, or the control arm holes. Others have reported some of the off-brands not fitting also. Plus this is not a place you want to save money.
I bought Moog and they fit perfectly. I've only read one report where someone couldn't fit them in.
Buy either Moog or Spicer from rockauto.com, they're your cheapest source at about $75 each. Usually someone will have a 5% discount code if you ask, or just start a thread asking for it.
For actually seperating the BJ from the knuckle, where it attaches with the castle nut, go to Autozone and rent a "pitman arm puller". It will fit into there just right. If you have a 84-87 you have to load up the control arm with your jack and remove the shock/swaybar attachment plate to get the tool on. Pop it loose, then slowly lower the jack. Make sure the car is lifted high enough, the spring will arc down pretty far and you need further room to push the control arm down to pop it loose from the spring.
And for goddsake, whatever you do, don't use a pickle fork on aluminum parts.
It can get the BJ's out, but will probably never get them back in. Plus you'll have to do some grinding on it to make it fit inside the aluminum control arm properly. I didn't figure autozone would mind.Save yourself the hassle and remove the control arms and have someone with a hydraulic press remove and reinstall them. I bought one of these for balljoints and doing some of the bushings.
And be careful what brand you get. I started with Napa, they were about .010" too big and were going to break either my 10-ton press, or the control arm holes. Others have reported some of the off-brands not fitting also. Plus this is not a place you want to save money.
I bought Moog and they fit perfectly. I've only read one report where someone couldn't fit them in.
Buy either Moog or Spicer from rockauto.com, they're your cheapest source at about $75 each. Usually someone will have a 5% discount code if you ask, or just start a thread asking for it.
For actually seperating the BJ from the knuckle, where it attaches with the castle nut, go to Autozone and rent a "pitman arm puller".
It will fit into there just right. If you have a 84-87 you have to load up the control arm with your jack and remove the shock/swaybar attachment plate to get the tool on. Pop it loose, then slowly lower the jack. Make sure the car is lifted high enough, the spring will arc down pretty far and you need further room to push the control arm down to pop it loose from the spring.And for goddsake, whatever you do, don't use a pickle fork on aluminum parts.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: St.Pete FL
I to used to remove and install no problems
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Bottom arm slides in and out no problem once pressure gone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
