Ball joint replacement tips

November 30, 2013, 05:02:49 AM

When you rent the tool from Autozone you will run into a few issues on the ball joint job. Here's a couple work-arounds to get you through it.

First, when you try to assemble the tool to press the old one out, you will see that our ball joint is too tall for it. The tool won't fit over the stacked components no matter how you assemble them.

SOLUTION: Take out the plunger part from the threaded driving side. The tool I got just had an o-ring holding the plunger in, so it popped out with a tug after grabbing it with pliers.

This will leave a hole large enough to go over the ball joint upper stud. Next, thread your old castleated nut back down onto the stud until the cotter pin can go back in and hold it from turning. Now the tool will fit over the stud and the tool will use the nut to push on and stay centered nicely.

Next, when you go to press in the new ball joint, you will find that none of the collars fit our ball joint size.

SOLUTION: If you are replacing wheel bearings or have some old ones around........ use the inner bearing race from a Set 5 Timken as the collar! It is a perfect fit on the tool with the thin side, and the large flat side fits the outside of the ball joint nicely.

Neither of mine wanted to push in straight, so I had to smack the collar a few times on the side that was hanging up during the press. Otherwise, it's pretty straight forward.