Ball Joint Press

[Tirith]

Does anybody have a ball joint press (with the Dodge/Jeep adapters) that I could borrow this weekend? 4 Wheelers tells me my TJ's ball joints are starting to wear, so they will need replacing soon. I wil be replacing the front axle seals this weekend, and figured that I had might as well replace the ball joints while I had everything apart. I have the Harbor Freight 3-in-1 press, but I have read on Stu's site and elsewhere that this just isn't up to the task...

Thanks in advance! :)

[danno]

I have one you can use... Which are of town are you located... I am in North Scottsdale near 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd

[KennethS]

Most auto parts stores have a tool rental program. I "bought" one from AutoZone, then brough it back after I was done and got my money back. I used the press for the ball joints and all of the u-joints, both driveshaft and axle shaft.

[Tirith]

danno, I am at I-17 and Happy Valley... not too far away. I can certainly drive over to Scottsdale to pick it up. Just let me know when. Thanks so much! :)

KennethS, I just got back from Autozone... they did have a press that looked exactly like the 3-in-1 that I have. I am sure it was better quality (stronger) than my Harbor Freight, but it had the same exact adapters mine has (the three different collars), which will not help me much, since I was hoping to get my hands on the Jeep-specific adapters. I know it is possible to do this without those adapters, but I am pressed for time on Sat and am hoping to avoid as many potential headaches as I possibly can. :D

[KennethS]

There are Jeep specific adapters? I did mine with the adapters that the AZ press had. If you can get pics of these Jeep specific adapters please post them. Maybe it will make the job easier next time? Hopefully it will be a while, though, as I just did mine this past Christmas.

[ademster]

I have a huge ball joint kit with about 20 adapters... but this wont do you any good as it is locked in my tool box at work.. and well I leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning. and their closed right now.


but you can use the adapters from Autozone... I have their kit and works good. for any ball joint...

just use the cones that closely fit the size.. and use the other piece ( flat round ) and press it out... I dont know on your jeep but most ball joints have some sort of lock clip... make sure it is removed before pressing them out... also PB Blaster is your friend with ball joints.

[jeff krause]

Use a impact wrench when removing Ball Joints .. the bang bang bang on the impact gets um out ever time.... constant presure from a breaker bar can F- things up..... ask me how I know

[Tirith]

Well, I don't have an impact wrench, so I have to rely on the press.

I am picking up the adapters from danno this evening... if you want to see pics of the adapters, check out Stu's site, page 3 of the balljoint write-up:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/balljoint/balljoint-3.htm

[KennethS]

Looks exactly the same as the ones in the AZ kit, but it would be impossible to tell the difference in those adapters from the pictures if it's just the diameter that is different. Anyway, the ones in the AZ kit worked fine for me, not only on the TJ but on my '71 Cutlass, too.