Replacing Upper Ball Joints - Need advice on 4wd Press Adapters

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Hey Guys,

I worked on my Upper Ball Joints last night for a few hours and couldn't figure out the right situation for the press. Everyone recommends the Oreilly 4wd adapters (67048 - https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/rental-tools-evertough-4771/tools---equipment-16488/tools-17919/rental-tools-16837/rental-tools--suspension---steering-19169/4wd-ball-joint-adapter-set/67048/4700263)

Unfortunately it seems like Oreilly doesn't have a store within 80 miles of Brooklyn and Advance & Autozone don't carry the 4wd adapter set. The other challenge with my situation is that I'm working in the street in Brooklyn, so I can't have the truck sitting for even 1 night without being drivable.

So while I muscled on it with a couple of sets of general BJ press & adapters, as well as a 2/3 arm 5 ton puller, I couldn't get the BJ to budge. I did not want to resort to cutting the stud for fear that I wouldn't be able to press the new one in without the right adapters. I ended up putting it all back together.

Next week I will be going to my girlfriend's family's house in NJ where I will have all weekend and a garage to work on it. I'm looking to just buy the 4wd adapters and potentially rent the press.

Can anyone chime in on whether you think either of these kits will work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HATBVM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BUI5VCW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1UMBRA5ZTBCX8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00061SGJ0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=AUEUXQQV6YS3R&psc=1

Appreciate the help!

 

[phattyduck]

We just used a random bit of pipe and it came out with almost no effort on the press. Make sure you take out the c-clip first!!!

-Charlie

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Yep, got the c-clip out (had to make a quick run to Autozone for some circlip pliers).

Sorry should have been more clear that I'm trying to do this job without taking the entire spindle out and putting them in a press (also don't own a press, though I could buy one from HF if needed). So clearance inside the wheel well is one of the issues I'm battling.

The other issue I think I'm battling is that at some point this BJ was replaced with a Moog, and there is a lot of rust visible around the sleeve, so I'm thinking it's also extra corroded.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Soak it with this first:
https://www.amazon.com/Kano-Aerokroil-Penetrating-aerosol-AEROKROIL/dp/B005ESIHZI?th=1

I have to wonder if it was installed correctly?

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I've heard of Kroil, got by on Pblaster when I did my LCA/LBJ, rack bushings ETC.

Soaked the UBJ in Pblaster as well, also torched them. It's hard to tell how much force I was actually able to apply as I was using the 2 jaw puller and it was tough to keep centered.

I'm not sure how to confirm if it was installed correctly, it's there, that's for sure. Haha. Maybe when they pressed it in they jammed it in crooked.

The other thing is that the Moog dust boot has a hard plastic base that I found impossible to get back on the UBJ. Apparently whoever installed it before thought they same thing because it wasn't creating any seal. There also was not a wire tied around it to keep it in place.

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Use the Total Chaos ones, they work/fit:

TOTAL CHAOS FABRICATION

Press away

 

[Unner]

Use the Total Chaos ones, they work/fit:

TOTAL CHAOS FABRICATION

Press away

Did you replace with OEM or aftermarket? I wonder how these would work for installing OEM balljoints, they look like they're work well for removing them.

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Did you replace with OEM or aftermarket? I wonder how these would work for installing OEM balljoints, they look like they're work well for removing them.

Good question... I know I removed them with that, but then swapped to uniball using their uniball adapters. Pretty sure you could press in a balljoint with them too...

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Thanks for the link, I'll see if I can get ahold of total chaos tomorrow to ask if they work for install.

I'm guessing they will though just flip the parts around


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[Unner]

I'll see if I can get ahold of total chaos tomorrow to ask if they work for install.

I'm guessing they will though just flip the parts around


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I think they won't. The narrower tall one has to be able to slide through the spindle, and the other one has to be bigger than the hole in the spindle to press them out. To press them in you need the opposite. Let us know what they tell you though, I could be totally wrong.

 

[96RedRunner]

I used a HF 8" 3 jaw puller recently to remove and install UBJ's while having spindle on vehicle. Used 4"cutoff wheel to remove BJ stud at ball, used 1/2" drive impact sockets as adapters for puller. Lots of PB blaster for two days before job.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Did you press the new ones in with the same 3 jaw puller?

I'm pretty sure I'd be able to get it out with a 3 jaw puller if I cut it, but there seems to be a lot of corrosion keeping it locked in.

I was having problems keeping everything centered using the puller with a socket. Did you use a nut in your socket? The other problem is I ended up threading the rental puller's forcing screw about 1/2" into the socket. That was a ***** to get out tonight so I could return the damn thing.


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[96RedRunner]

The HF puller has a swivel tip on it that fits perfect into socket.
Yes keeping it lined up while snugging it up is nature of the beast. Another pair of hands is very helpful.
Installing BJ I did use puller from the bottom of spindle. Socket the size to fit outside edge of BJ. After I polished BJ hole with emory cloth. BJ is hard to get started straight. I used a rat tail file to bevel the start side of hole, nothing more than breaking the edge. Lubed with never seize, started BJ with small hammer.
Ratchet straps were involved to hold spindle from falling pulling CV apart