Lower ball joint tricks? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BIGBLU 72 · 12-29-2010, 09:30 PM

Anyone have any tricks or tips to getting the lower ball joints into my 68 with the a arm still on it! an guy that i work with said to put them in the freezer so they contract and will slide in easier??? let me know any thing to make this deal easier!

**leddzepp** · 12-29-2010, 09:32 PM

The ball joint press tool at Harbor Freight works great. I have used it many times.

foz · 12-29-2010, 09:39 PM

I took my lower arms off today just to remove the lower ball joints. Was only 4 nuts and they came off easy. Then took them over to the bench and knocked them out with a sledge. I guess you could do the same without taking them off but it's easy to remove the nuts and I prefer standing than being on my knees on the floor.

I figured it would be easier to install the new ones too with them being off and as easy as it was why not.

I'm going to go ahead and blast them while they are off and give them a new coat of paint before putting them back on.

**Classic Heartbeat** · 12-29-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

The ball joint press tool at Harbor Freight works great.

What he said!!

WES

71 super · 12-29-2010, 10:01 PM

I rented the press tool from advance last night and it was litterally a 30 minute job to remove and install using the same tool. Go rent it and be done, easy to use your head, hard to use your back

68anniversary · 12-29-2010, 10:05 PM

We loan them at oreilly's also but I would imagine any major Auto Parts store would have them. It's pretty simple to do them on the truck.

cdowns · 12-29-2010, 10:07 PM

ball joint press is a very handy cheap inexpensive tool to own it does alot more than balljoints too
i have one i got from jcwhitney 35years ago and has more than paid for itself many timess over

**kev2809** · 12-29-2010, 10:08 PM

^^^ thats what i used. easier to do them on the truck too because the truck holds it still for you. i did mine off the truck since i was sanding them and painting them and it was a pain because they kept moving everywhere..

BIGBLU 72 · 12-29-2010, 10:17 PM

well i think that i will rent one from work (autozone) or see if i have a friend with one that i can borrow

**rob32472** · 12-29-2010, 10:21 PM

The freezer trick works but the press is easier

12-29-2010, 09:30 PM	#1
BIGBLU 72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 700	Lower ball joint tricks? Anyone have any tricks or tips to getting the lower ball joints into my 68 with the a arm still on it! an guy that i work with said to put them in the freezer so they contract and will slide in easier??? let me know any thing to make this deal easier! __________________ 68 C10 LWB 2/4 drop 406/th400/3.73posi 04 Silverado SS LQ9 6.0/4L65e/4.11posi AWD

12-29-2010, 09:32 PM	#2
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,997	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? The ball joint press tool at Harbor Freight works great. I have used it many times. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man

12-29-2010, 09:39 PM	#3
foz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trafalgar, Indiana Posts: 44	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? I took my lower arms off today just to remove the lower ball joints. Was only 4 nuts and they came off easy. Then took them over to the bench and knocked them out with a sledge. I guess you could do the same without taking them off but it's easy to remove the nuts and I prefer standing than being on my knees on the floor. I figured it would be easier to install the new ones too with them being off and as easy as it was why not. I'm going to go ahead and blast them while they are off and give them a new coat of paint before putting them back on. Last edited by foz; 12-29-2010 at 09:40 PM.

12-29-2010, 10:01 PM	#5
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,079	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? I rented the press tool from advance last night and it was litterally a 30 minute job to remove and install using the same tool. Go rent it and be done, easy to use your head, hard to use your back __________________ 67 blue step side- bb 68 gold and white swb cst anniversary 68 custom swb hot rod Ls swap 69 swb cst 6 cylinder/ overdrive 69 black/black cst bb swb 70 orange and white cst Canada built truck swb bb 71 black and white super swb bb 71 red and white super swb 72 green and white super swb 4x4 62 nova wagon 400 series Ls swapped 68 Camaro 327/4 speed- 1 owner, original paint 66 Volkswagen bettle 69 auto stick Volkswagen Beetle

12-29-2010, 10:05 PM	#6
68anniversary Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Peculiar, Missouri Posts: 125	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? We loan them at oreilly's also but I would imagine any major Auto Parts store would have them. It's pretty simple to do them on the truck.

12-29-2010, 10:07 PM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? ball joint press is a very handy cheap inexpensive tool to own it does alot more than balljoints too i have one i got from jcwhitney 35years ago and has more than paid for itself many timess over __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

12-29-2010, 10:08 PM	#8
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,152	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? ^^^ thats what i used. easier to do them on the truck too because the truck holds it still for you. i did mine off the truck since i was sanding them and painting them and it was a pain because they kept moving everywhere.. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

12-29-2010, 10:17 PM	#9
BIGBLU 72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 700	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? well i think that i will rent one from work (autozone) or see if i have a friend with one that i can borrow __________________ 68 C10 LWB 2/4 drop 406/th400/3.73posi 04 Silverado SS LQ9 6.0/4L65e/4.11posi AWD

12-29-2010, 10:21 PM	#10
rob32472 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: dallas ga Posts: 1,505	Re: Lower ball joint tricks? The freezer trick works but the press is easier



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