lower BJ press c-clamp tool, rant

[benoit454]

Anybody ever use one of those big c-clamp type ball joint press/service kit?

We'll we rented one from autozone, POS wasn't big enough. You could not use the plate and cup on bottom with a plate on top, not enough room to get it on there. We had to pull the end out of it, use a tip off a gear/harmonic balancer puller, let the Ball joint stud stick up into the top where the shaft you tighten is, and use it that way. Worked decent after you got it lined up, took like 5 seconds to remove the bottom ball joint with it being turned by an impact.

Reinstall was the same way, not enough room in the c for the adapters, plates and cups, and ball joint stud too tall. So again we left the top open and let the bk stud come up into the screw shaft, which is hollow, maybe it's made for that reason? Then had a cup and plate around it on top of the LCA and a plate under the ball joint, it worked, but only the backside of the bj went in, front did not. It would not line up and work straight, ended up tapping it on bottom with a hammer, then jack under it and hit the control arm around the ball joint to drive it into the control arm.

I mean come on they make the tool for the job why not be wide enough to work? It worked great removing it, with our own home made stop inside the screw shaft, which made it short enough to make use of the cup and plate on bottom. Putting it back in just did not work, but it wasn't hard to go back in with a hammer and jack. Still have the ps to do tomorrow I guess.

[87chevy.com]

I bought one from harborfreight, looks just like the autozone one... worked fine for me... 87 silverado... ? operator error maybe?

[cdowns]

if you buy your own quality tools they tend to work and last a lifetime

[benoit454]

It was more tool error, if they made it so the balljoint stud goes up into the main shaft then it works fine, just worried me about threads. it worked good for removing both sides, and today I put the PS in with it, worked alot better, more time and care had to be taken on my part to make sure the balljoint started and started level all around, and keep the tool straight, then it worked great.

So I guess I can withdrawl my rant, if you do alot of balljoints or need to do one it's worth the rent or purchase price, cuz your buddies are gonna want to use it.

It did need a different thing up top to push the balljoint out as you could not use the cup for it, but after thinking about it the bigger cup may have worked to let the stud go thru into the shaft, but it's made to fit the bottom of the c-clamp and we did not have the truck in the air high enough. If you got as lift or can get the front end 3 or 4 feet off the ground you'd be set and be perfect. not having directions or anything kinda hurt us too, in the end it worked and done it's job. it saved on alot of pounding and beating.

[ERASER5]

No! I kill you! dumba$$!

[MalibuSSwagon]

Worked fine for me, it is frustrating to set it up plus my jack sucks and doesnt lift the truck very high. I destroyed a new ball joint for my Honda once because my ADD must have in overdrive, I didn't notice I had it setup wrong and just impacted the hell outta it until i noticed it stopped moving halfway in, pulled it apart and the BJ was crushed lol

[benoit454]

ouch lol.

Yea it worked alot better the 2nd day, more calm not in a rush just wanted to try it out and see if it do both jobs and it did. Would have been easier if the truck was on a lift or soemthing, maybe like 3-4 feet off the ground, then the bolt you turn on the clamp would face down and work better.

[BarryB]

I bought one off the mac tool guy (OTC brand) s few years ago, I haven't removed a balljoint yet with it. But I have in my tool box whenever I do need it. Now, I have used it for removing and installing u-joints.