Upper Ball joints kicking my rear...

[josh.bunch]

So I've had Toyota upper ball joints in my parts box for a couple of months now and I decided to give it a try today at replacing them. I followed this link that can be found in the maintenance and tutorial thread in the sticky's from TTORA. I've got the UBJ separated from the upper control arm and the boot removed. I rented this from Auto Zone...


The only problem is it won't fit in the wheel well. I think i'm going to have to remove that whole vertical arm to get that particular kit to fit. Has anyone else run into this problem or come up with some sort of solution to pressing the UBJ out of the knuckle and then back in? Is there a better tool for doing this? I'm kind of ready to throw my hands in the air on this one. :shrug:

 

[Bighead2001]

You'll save yourself a lot of heartache and get plenty of room to work if you just pulled the entire spindle. I pulled out the spindle and used a large vise, cheater bar and small sections of pipe to press the BJ back in. Not the best way but it worked.

Worst case if you pulled the spindle you can take it to a shop that has a press to do the swap.

Hopefully someone has some better advice.

 

[LittleCaesar]

This link may help. If it does, thank BFAD.
Tacoma Suspension - Control Arms

I just got a shop to press the uppers in and out for $60 for both sides.

For the tool pic you attached, you need the extra kit, which Oreilys has but Autozone does not. I have run into this problem with AZ before for ball joints (not for the 4runner).

 

[josh.bunch]

This link may help. If it does, thank BFAD.
Tacoma Suspension - Control Arms

I just got a shop to press the uppers in and out for $60 for both sides.

For the tool pic you attached, you need the extra kit, which Oreilys has but Autozone does not. I have run into this problem with AZ before for ball joints (not for the 4runner).

Can you post a picture of what it is that O'Rielly's has that Auto Zone does not? There is an O'Rielly's 100 yards from the Auto Zone by my place. I'm not sure what removing the entire spindle entails, but I may go this route if the kit you tell me about from O'Rielly's doesn't do the trick.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Ahhh, clarity. The sinus medicine is making me less than lucid.

Take the whole knuckle out first if you are going to use the tool IMO.

Oreilys has nothing more than more cylinder sizes to choose from to gain leverage to press the joint out against the knuckle, then back in. Will any work on the 4runner? That I do not know. I would think so.

 

[josh.bunch]

Alright, I've given it a try 3 days in a row now with no luck. Looks like I'm going to have to pull the spindle. Just to be clear, from studying it it looks like I need to do the following to get it off:

1)Remove the hub nut. (35mm socket???)
2)Remove Nut that attaches the brake line
3)Remove the 4 bolts from the LBJ
4)Remove 2 bolts that attach caliper

If I'm leaving something out or adding in a step please let me know. It's been raining a lot so I'm not going to to get to this until tomorrow. Then I'll take it to a shop on Monday.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Josh,

You are good to with everything. You may want to put the knuckle back in the UCA first (not to 80ft/lb), and remove it last. Then remove the caliper first, then the brake line, then everything else.

Let us know how it turns out. Have you been quoted a price?

 

[josh.bunch]

Josh,

You are good to with everything. You may want to put the knuckle back in the UCA first (not to 80ft/lb), and remove it last. Then remove the caliper first, then the brake line, then everything else.

Let us know how it turns out. Have you been quoted a price?

Good idea. I wear steel toed boots whenever I work on my truck for just that reason, but good thinking none the less. I have not gotten any quotes yet, but my whole family has used the same mechanic for 10+ years, and it still baffles me how much cheaper they are than everyone else, extremely knowledgeable, and infinity honest too. Typically 30-60% lower than anyone else. I would be surprised if it were more than 30-50 dollars. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I got a notice on my front door yesterday for an inoperable vehicle (which is against city code), so I have 1 week to get it back together(wheels attached). Shouldn't be a problem as long as the weather cooperators. Gotta love living in an area with wonderful H.O.A.'s.

 

[revenantdead]

use the BFH on the upper ball joint stud. it'll drop out of the upper control arm and then you can use the tool

 

[josh.bunch]

I used the fork to get it out of the UCA. That took 2 minutes. It has been out of the UCA for 3 days. Neither of the 2 tools I've tried worked. It's going to take some sort of hydraulic press to get that out. I had the long arm puller with 3 pieces of 1/8th inch steel in between the puller thread and the 36MM socket (see link), and it still bent the steel. That "D" word ball joint would not budge even with my 26 inch breaker bar.

 

[josh.bunch]

Well I dont think it is meant to be. It's weeks like this when I just want to sell me rig bc what should be so simple takes hours and is seemingly impossible. One of the bolts on my LBJ stripped out. I've tried hammering one size smaller socket on there. I've tried welding a socket to the bolt, but I can only get a weld on 1/2 of the socket. It's not strong enough and breaks. Finally I gave up on that and went for removing the wheel hub dust cap...FAIL...

The really crappy part is It is to a point now where I'm not sure it will even go back together to get it towed somewhere to let someone else deal with this POS. BLAH, BLAH, BLAAH!!!!

:redbrick::redbrick::redbrick::redbrick:

Just needed to vent. No advice necessary, I'm up sh!t creek without a paddle.

 

[josh.bunch]

Some of the best advise I have ever received on this forum was when something is kicking your butt, walk away and come back to it later that day or the next day. Sunday night I woke up at 3 am and I had figured out how to get this dang thing off. That being said... TAKE THAT STUPID SPINDLE!!!

 

[tinman]

Some of the best advise I have ever received on this forum was when something is kicking your butt, walk away and come back to it later that day or the next day. TAKE THAT STUPID SPINDLE!!!

Agreed on the walking away and coming back...works for me!

Also glad to hear & see you finally got the upper hand. :thumb3:

 

[josh.bunch]

Got it...

 

[shadow247]

Mine look and feel suprisingly tight with 341k miles. It doesn't hurt that my Runner never saw much other than highway duty and the occasional trip down the boat ramp. I'm glad you got it done, I didn't have any advice other than keep at it and you will get it!