Air Hammer to Remove Upper Ball Joints

[Unner]

Anyone here ever used an air hammer to remove the upper ball joints from the spindle?

I'm hoping I'll get some time to replace my UBJs this week and got to thinking about using an air hammer to remove them might be a pretty easy way, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for any input or thoughts!

 

[JayRolla]

Anyone here ever used an air hammer to remove the upper ball joints from the spindle?

I'm hoping I'll get some time to replace my UBJs this week and got to thinking about using an air hammer to remove them might be a pretty easy way, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for any input or thoughts!

IMO the air hammer wont hit it hard enough. At least mine does not. BFH has been my way. Just make sure to remove that C clip. People think its not there because its rusted over and will waste tons of timing getting it out.

 

[sawguy]

I used a air hammer with a pickle fork...it did the job but took awhile.

 

[flipty]

I haven't met a ball joint that my air hammer and pickle fork couldn't beat. I'm sure it exists, but I'd be looking to that c-clip as well if you're really having trouble.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Here the maker of the air hammer comes into play. SO, Mac, Marco all make stout air hammers. Also, what size compressor will be feeding the air hammer?

I personally prefer pullers and/or cup ball joints press tools in this line of work.

+1 with [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] to not forget the C clip.

 

[JayRolla]

Now that I remember if BFH didnt work I did use my 3 claw puller with some sockets. Cut the ball joint end off

 

[mtbtim]

A balljoint press with the right adapters works every time too.

 

[Unner]

IMO the air hammer wont hit it hard enough. At least mine does not. BFH has been my way. Just make sure to remove that C clip. People think its not there because its rusted over and will waste tons of timing getting it out.

Yup, hopefully my C clip isn't rusted at all. I don't think it is.

I used a air hammer with a pickle fork...it did the job but took awhile.

I haven't met a ball joint that my air hammer and pickle fork couldn't beat. I'm sure it exists, but I'd be looking to that c-clip as well if you're really having trouble.

How are you guys setting up the air hammer and pickle fork? I'm not sure I understand this set up.

Here the maker of the air hammer comes into play. SO, Mac, Marco all make stout air hammers. Also, what size compressor will be feeding the air hammer?

I personally prefer pullers and/or cup ball joints press tools in this line of work.

+1 with [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] to not forget the C clip.

The air hammer isn't anything special, just a kobalt one and the compressor is a good one for a home garage, but not industrial strength or anything. I'll check on the size of the compressor.

Now that I remember if BFH didnt work I did use my 3 claw puller with some sockets. Cut the ball joint end off

I've seen the 2 and 3 claw pullers being used. I might end up having to do that and just use a puller of some sort. I had never heard of an air hammer being used so I was hoping maybe it was an unknown easy way or something.

A balljoint press with the right adapters works every time too.

This is true. I've seen your video on removal, I just didn't want to buy that whole kit since I'd really only use it once. I might just need to use some pullers and a combo of different sockets and adapters. I'd rather stay away from cutting the ball joint stud, but if I have to I guess I will.

 

[habanero]

I've rented a ball joint press kit from Autozone. Free.

 

[fixxor]

I bought this 3 jaw puller and its worked great the couple of times I have used it. Just get some good pressure and then smack the upper arm with a hammer, pops the balljoint right out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SRFN0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[NWFL4Runner]

This is true. I've seen your video on removal, I just didn't want to buy that whole kit since I'd really only use it once. I might just need to use some pullers and a combo of different sockets and adapters. I'd rather stay away from cutting the ball joint stud, but if I have to I guess I will.

If you're replacing it why worry about cutting it? I sound like a broken record every time I mention it, but even if you use the press one time, it pays for itself if you have 1 UBJ that is a son of a to get out. Plus you get an excuse to find random things to press out.

 

[fourfive]

I tried using a c clamp style ball joint press but could never get good stability on the clamp with a wrench to press the ball joint out b/c the spindle kept wanting to flop around. I had good luck using a pitman arm puller from a puller kit I have. Used the pitman arm puller with a socket over the UBJ and it pressed it right out.

 

[fourfive]

...if you ever pass through Atlanta going back and forth between SC & AL you are welcome to borrow it any time.

 

[mtbtim]

I tried using a c clamp style ball joint press but could never get good stability on the clamp with a wrench to press the ball joint out b/c the spindle kept wanting to flop around. I had good luck using a pitman arm puller from a puller kit I have. Used the pitman arm puller with a socket over the UBJ and it pressed it right out.

It's a little more work but I recommend pulling the whole knuckle out and clamp it in a vice. With the knuckle not flopping around on you, it's easy to get enough leverage with a breaker bar and socket on the balljoint press spindle to get the UBJ out.

I do like the pitman arm and socket idea though. I bought the damn balljoint press kit so i was going to use it regardless of any other Mcgyver ways to get the job done.

 

[LittleCaesar]

The Kobalt doesn't have enough power Unner. Believe me, I had one.

Here is one way.....
Tacoma Suspension - Control Arms

 

[99Runnr]

I just did mine 4 days after carpel tunnel surgery with one hand.

Pry the clip off, cut the threads/stem of the balljoint off, rest spindle against a wadded up blanket, solid hits with a 3 lb hammer as it lays horizontal. Had both of mine done in 15 minutes.

 

[flipty]

This is my setup:

https://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Ra...235&sr=8-1&keywords=ingersoll+rand+air+hammer

(and something similar to this) :

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-252...id=1494363255&sr=1-2&keywords=air+hammer+fork

on a 20 gallon Husky (home depot brand) compressor. Being fed from a 100 foot extension cord with my lighting and any electrical (read: ipad and sawzall).

 

[Unner]

I probably won't get around to it this week so it'll probably be a little while until I get to them. I don't need to replace them really, but I want to replace them as preventative maintenance. I appreciate all the input and advice though!

If you're replacing it why worry about cutting it? I sound like a broken record every time I mention it, but even if you use the press one time, it pays for itself if you have 1 UBJ that is a son of a to get out. Plus you get an excuse to find random things to press out.

There's just something in me that doesn't want to cut, but I could do it if I had to. Ideally I'd love to have a hydraulic press to do things like this, but that's not in the cards right now with space and everything else.

I tried using a c clamp style ball joint press but could never get good stability on the clamp with a wrench to press the ball joint out b/c the spindle kept wanting to flop around. I had good luck using a pitman arm puller from a puller kit I have. Used the pitman arm puller with a socket over the UBJ and it pressed it right out.

...if you ever pass through Atlanta going back and forth between SC & AL you are welcome to borrow it any time.

I've got one in the top left of that picture on amazon. Which one did you use out of that set? I'll let you know, with the 85 bridge being out I will probably be avoiding Atlanta for awhile. I can only imagine how bad traffic has been since then.

It's a little more work but I recommend pulling the whole knuckle out and clamp it in a vice. With the knuckle not flopping around on you, it's easy to get enough leverage with a breaker bar and socket on the balljoint press spindle to get the UBJ out.

I do like the pitman arm and socket idea though. I bought the damn balljoint press kit so i was going to use it regardless of any other Mcgyver ways to get the job done.

This is another option. It's not too many extra steps really to pull the entire spindle.

The Kobalt doesn't have enough power Unner. Believe me, I had one.

Here is one way.....
Tacoma Suspension - Control Arms

Darn... I've seen that writeup. Everything seems to have gone so smoothly for him, I can't imagine it actually going that way whenever I do get around to it...

This is my setup:

https://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Ra...235&sr=8-1&keywords=ingersoll+rand+air+hammer

(and something similar to this) :

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-252...id=1494363255&sr=1-2&keywords=air+hammer+fork

on a 20 gallon Husky (home depot brand) compressor. Being fed from a 100 foot extension cord with my lighting and any electrical (read: ipad and sawzall).

Interesting, I didn't realize they made pickle fork air hammer attachments.

 

[fourfive]

I've got one in the top left of that picture on amazon. Which one did you use out of that set?

I used the one in the middle because I happened to grab it first, so the one on the top left may fit.

 

[mtbtim]

This is another option. It's not too many extra steps really to pull the entire spindle.

I decided with the removal of the whole knuckle after having a similar experience that [MENTION=116877]fourfive[/MENTION] had. The flopping around and limited room inside the wheel well to fit a balljoint press made it difficult. We ended up releasing the brake line and turned the knuckle on it's side to have more room but it still took an extra set of hands to stabilize everything and be able to apply enough force to press the UBJ out.

Since we've used pullers many times to break free the outer tie rod from the knuckle of the LBJ, break free the LBJ from the LCA and spin off the axle nut with a gun, it was pretty quick work for us. You also have to remove the brake caliper and hang it out way, remove the ABS sensor if you have ABS and disconnect a brake line bracket connected to the knuckle. We were also replacing the LBJs on the rig we were working on so it made sense to us to just remove the whole knuckle. But yeah, as I type this, it was definitely some extra steps. I just didn't want to fight the removal of the UBJ like the last time so I added some time but prevented a lot of frustration so it was worth it I reckon.

Good luck with the job.