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04-18-2016, 12:27 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 827
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Removing left-upper 4x4 ball joint without removing steering arm?
Doing ball joints (and bearings, and hub/spindle seals, and axle shaft seals, and on ad nauseum) on my K10. First time at this, but no problems... until I got to the last ball joint, the driver-side upper. The tool doesn't fit between the steering arm and the ball joint, so the steering arm has to come off. So far, that ain't happenin'. I have tried copious amounts of PB Blaster (otherwise known as the brain-cell killer), SeeTen's socket trick, and of course a BFH.
So I began thinking (always dangerous, I know) - work smarter, not harder. Instead of beating the crap out of the steering arm with a sledge, how else could I press out the joint? The immediate and easiest idea is to modify the receiving tube on the press to be a "C" shape, cut out where the steering arm is in the way. But that leaves me with a very expensive adapter kit that I'd prefer to return to Autozone. I wondered if any of you have ever come up with a good solution. Removing the steering arm just to press out a ball joint seems like a waste of time and energy. All you really need is some strong, U-shaped piece of metal to act as a partial receiver tube for the joint. I'll keep working on a (cheap) method, but if anyone's got an idea or done this before, say the word.
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1972 K10 Cheyenne Super | LWB, fleetside | 350/350/205 | KEEPER 1971 K10 Cheyenne | SWB, fleetside | LS Swap 5.3/4L60 | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 400/4-spd | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 455/4-spd | TOTALED |
04-18-2016, 07:24 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Removing left-upper 4x4 ball joint without removing steering arm?
I disconnect the tie rod so the knuckle can swing out to where I can hit it with a good swing. Those little cones will work their way up. Just have to get a better smack on it. Heat will also help
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
04-18-2016, 08:36 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 827
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Re: Removing left-upper 4x4 ball joint without removing steering arm?
Well, unfortunately I already removed the knuckle from the truck. Didn't think about having to remove the steering arm until I went to press out the joint. Good thing is I can clamp it in my vice... the bad thing is that I can then destroy my bench hammering on the part clamped in the vice.
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1972 K10 Cheyenne Super | LWB, fleetside | 350/350/205 | KEEPER 1971 K10 Cheyenne | SWB, fleetside | LS Swap 5.3/4L60 | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 400/4-spd | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 455/4-spd | TOTALED |
04-19-2016, 08:55 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 827
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Re: Removing left-upper 4x4 ball joint without removing steering arm?
Well, I did it. For anyone searching for this same thing in the future: Go to the hardware store, and buy a 2" galvanized pipe nipple 3-4" long. Four bucks and that's all you need, and it is the right inner diameter to accept the ball joint. Put the nipple in the vice, take a hacksaw to it, ending up with a "C" shape. Mark it first so you take off only what's needed where the steering arm is too close to the joint to fit a tool. Then use the new C you just made with a press and presto! Super easy, way easier than fighting with the steering arm. Hope this helps someone later!
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1972 K10 Cheyenne Super | LWB, fleetside | 350/350/205 | KEEPER 1971 K10 Cheyenne | SWB, fleetside | LS Swap 5.3/4L60 | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 400/4-spd | SOLD 1976 Trans Am | 455/4-spd | TOTALED |
Yesterday, 03:55 PM | #5 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Dunbarton, NH
Posts: 282
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Re: Removing left-upper 4x4 ball joint without removing steering arm?
Quote:
With inflation the 2" x 4" nipple costs me $6.98, almost double what you paid 8 years ago. Worth every penny. I used a cut off wheel to make the cuts needed.
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Steve/NH 1967 K10 327 Short Bed Stepside 2008 F350 Power Stroke Lariat 2007 BMW X3 2023 BMW X3 M-Sport 2020 BMW 540xi M-Sport 1995 Harley FLSTC Last edited by ohboy321; Yesterday at 05:03 PM. |
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