Ball Joint Removal?

[MasterDrazhar]

Anyone done this?  I've got my new front axle nearly stripped down but could not figure out the correct combination with the Harbour Freight Ball joint tool to use to get those MotherF#$*ers out...

Any ideas???

Also while I'm here, do the bushings just press out also for axle side upper control arms?  There are currently old junked bushings in there I need/want to get out.

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[NomadJeep]

the Harbor freight tool is a great one for doing ball joints too, but it does not give you the Dana 44 correct ball joint collar.  I had detour cut me a piece of square tubbing stock at Angle to be able to press mine in.

The easy part is getting them out, the harder part is getting them in...


I think I just did the bottom one with the large spacer on the bottom, and then a socket on the top of the lower ball joint,  The threaded part of the tool will be at the very bottom so that this way as you tighten, the pin from the ball goes into the cups, and the socket at the top pushes the ball downward. Sort of doing it in reverse. 

Then when the lower is out, the upper you can just put cups at the top, and push right on the pin of the ball joint to get it to push out. This will destroy the upper joint but if you are taking them out, you are usually replacing them anyway.

 

[MasterDrazhar]

Damon,
  This is for a Dana30.  Did you use a socket instead of the B collar on the tool?  or on the other side where the A collar is supposed to go?
  If you feel like poping over to colchester to give me a quick demo I could get us some beer    I got everything else off:  Hubs, knuckles etc...

Ron,
  Unless I suddenly become hercules I don't think the hammer deal is gonna work, I tried that route.



Do they both press out in the same direction?

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[NomadJeep]

I will see what I can do about stopping by.

I found the hammer worked best for me with putting it all back in...HF tool kept making the ball go in crooked.

Pretty sure the lower comes out through the bottom, upper goes out through the top. 

 

[xjmark]

Ron's hammer method seems to work best on many things. 
"Swing press" as he calls it. :mrgreen:


I have the original version of the balljoint press made by OTC that HF copied. I don't remember the last Time I used it.
Been using a hammer to dissassemble and reinstall parts like u-joints. Still haven't done balljoints with the press, but hammers have always gotten them out. :wink:

 

[MasterDrazhar]

Ok, I think I was swing pressing in the wrong direction... :redface:    I'll give it another shot tonight when I get home.

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[MasterDrazhar]

HOLY HELL those fuckers are S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N!  I got three out, 4th one won't budge...


Do the Upper control arm bushings in the axle side just press out of the mounts on the axle?

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[xjmark]

An air hammer works well for getting the bushings out, and back in.

 

[JeepinMaxx]

An air hammer works well for getting the bushings out, and back in.

Jeff - I have the air hammer if you need to use it
Call me and I can drop it off (assuming you have an air compressor)