Ball Joint How to get it back in?? >> HELP

[nguada]

A new ball joint is killing me, it wont come in.

Any tips, tricks that I should follow?

I got a Ball Joint Press but I am not strong enoughs, I will try with an Impact Wrench next.

I heard about freezing the ball joint or heating the arm or just giving up and taking the arm and the ball joint to a Garage with Hydraulic Press.

Any advise is welcome.

Thanks

Natalio Guada

Pembroke Pines, FL

[bmcecosse]

How did you get the old one out ?

[nguada]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by bmcecosse</i>

How did you get the old one out ?


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I use a gear extractor, when I use it the other way, I damage the new ball joint since I applied the presure on the softer center.

[FI Spyder]

This one job I leave for the garage and it's press not that I wouldn't like a press and accessories.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[bmcecosse]

Can you not fit something like a large socket over the 'soft centre' - pressing on the outer rim - and then pull it in that way ?

[laskaboots]

doesn't the threaded rod part go through the tapered hole far enough
to get the nut started, then pull it in tight by wrenching on the nut?

[Sondar]

That's the way I've done it in the past - although I seem to recall having to hit the top of the joint with a hammer to get it far enough through to get the nut on. Not exactly subtle, but it worked.

Sondar

[jazzie]

Moog Chassis and TRW Chassis have a ball joint tool, It is a giant C Clamp which allows the stud to pass thru the top of it...There are adapters that fit just about every ball joint..You take your impact to the screew nut and press the joint into the control arm..

It is a pretty cheap item..

[bmcecosse]

Any chance you could post a picture of that ball joint tool, jazzie ??

[nguada]

Thanks for all the sugestions

I took the sugestion from "FI Spider".

I took out the arm out and took it to a garage along with the ball joint.

The press it in with a "Hydraulic Press".

I believe the specs of the replacement part here is the states are a little over the top and prevented the other methods to work.

This one is over, more to come.

Thanks again

[jazzie]

BM,

I will see what I can do about getting a picture of the clamm / tool.

[bmcecosse]

Ok thanks 'jazzie' !

[FI Spyder]

Hers a link to Harbour Freght's ball joint press kit:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335

For Thirty five bucks it's a good deal compared to $180.00 I had priced out last year from local supplier. But then there's shpping.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[nguada]

I was using the tool from Harbour Freght the $35 one.

It was failing, as I was pressing the ball joint in, the C started to bend instead of pressing the ball joint in.

maybe the adaptors and the sleves could be used with a real press

Made in China [:(]

[FI Spyder]

I guess that's why it's $35 and not $180.[:)]



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra