ball joints

[beechcreek]

I started putting a 6" lift on my 72' stepside, and found that the ball joints don't look to good, i have almost got it broke down. My question is how do they come out. Looks like a good hammer, and some muscle. All advice taken i will tackle this when i get home this afternoon.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

[CUSTOM/10]

I would recomend checking with any local atomotive store to see if the have a rental bal joint press. A BFH is only going to mess things up.

Gary

[CUSTOM/10]

There's also a special 4 pronged socket needed for the upper ball joint.

Gary

[beechcreek]

Thanks Custon10 i will see what i can do.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by beechcreek

. My question is how do they come out. Looks like a good hammer, and some muscle. All advice taken i will tackle this when i get home this afternoon.

Are you refering to seperating the knuckle from the axle housing? or removing the ball joint itself from the knuckle?

The first case.....yes, BFH
The second, you are better off with a press of some kind, but at least they are small and mobile at that point.

As far as the socket: Yes, you need one to put it back together, but it won't help you to get it apart.

[beechcreek]

Thanks Longhair, i don't know realy i haven't got that far i just noticed that when u grab the rotor and move there is some play in the joints. its the upper on the driver side and lower on the passenger side. I plan on keeping the truck so i figured it needed to be right. looks like originals on it.

[CUSTOM/10]

Longhair is right, once your remove the ball joint nuts then you need a BFH to seperate the knuckle from the axle housing. Then use a ball joint press to remove the old ball joints and install the new ones. The 4 pronged socket is to torque the adjusting sleeve for the top ball joint. Usually the ball joints come with instructions and the torque specs.

Gary

[dammitmitchell]

p.s. i reccomend fully tearing down the hub before you drop it and put it back on..
it's a hell of a difference with the rotor.. on..
yes i know it's remedial.. but i tried to tough it out a few weeks ago.. and got laughed at ... alot..

[72blue]

I don't think that it is even possible to leave the rotor on, you need to have it off, the spindle, the axle shaft and all. I kind of remember when I did mine, what a pita.

James

[dammitmitchell]

crap ha ha ha well i took mine off cause i shattered that u joint there.. duh.. ir special somedays.. =-)

[beechcreek]

Thanks for all the replys, i have it all torn down to find more problems but not big ones. The local parts house has a rental press, you just pay what it is worth, use it, bring it back and they give your money back. I'm going to try that, because i called a front end shop and ask them to press them out and put the new ones in. They said they would for $80.00. I think i can figure out the ball joint press!!!!!!!

[CUSTOM/10]

The ball joint press is easy to figure out it's like a big C-Clamp with some assorted bushings for different size joints.

Gary

[meansting04]

Ya a press is the only way to go. I used a 76 ton arbor press and it worked great. I had to take my lower control arms off to do it this way, but i changed my shafts and bushings to.