Balljoints, any easy way?

[Eisenherz]

I got an 89 cherokee with a bad balljoint on the passenger side. are there anytricks out there to accomplish the removal and installation of a new one to fix that problem. Thanks for your time.

Ps. oops on posting in the wrong category

 

[Ramsey]

Go rent a good balljoint press from a parts store and it will be a piece of cake.

 

[scorpio_vette]

actually that's only 1/2 of what you need. the other half is a good balljoint adapter set. well actually you only need 2 specific pieces, but unless you can borrow them, you'll have to get an adapter set.

if you have a harbor freight nearby, they have a nice master balljoint adapter set for cheap. i would use that ball joint adapter set along with a good ball joint press that you can rent from autozone or advanced auto. i would NOT recommend using the ball joint press from harbor freight.

with a good balljoint press and the correct adapters it takes about

with airtools) 2 minutes
without airtools) 10-15 minutes

 

[philip_g]

the joints are easy, getting the unit bearings out and dropping the knuckles can suck.

Make sure you're pressing the right way

 

[Eisenherz]

awesome, what about getting them out. someone told me you could get a scissor jack and open that up to get the balljoint out. will that work?

 

[IntrepidXJ]

i would NOT recommend using the ball joint press from harbor freight.

on the other hand.....I WOULD recommend it. been using mine for over 4 years on different jobs and many ball joints included, and have not bent it. you just have to be smart about using it.

 

[scorpio_vette]

awesome, what about getting them out. someone told me you could get a scissor jack and open that up to get the balljoint out. will that work?

Balljoint press takes em out and puts em in.

 

[Ramsey]

Like I said, rent a good ball joint press, it will come with adapters.

 

[8Mud]

Easy and ball joint are both four letter words. Not complicated, just some grunt work. And every once and awhile the possibility of a serious buns up. A lot of the pieces come apart really hard if your unlucky.
I have a super duty press and thought I was gonna explode that sucker, the last ball joint that I took out. Three came out fairly easy, on the last one (somewhere around the middle of the process) l went looking for a face shield and my leather jacket. When it finally moved, it went BOOOM.

 

[Eisenherz]

cool, ill be sure to look for a press

 

[Vanquish]

Just swap the axle for another one with good ball joints!!! arty:

 

[Samuryan]

Just did mine today using harbor freight ball joint press. Worked great, people say they bend . . . don't know what that is about. Made sure it was straight and when there was tension i would whack the side of the knuckle with a hand sledge and they popped right out.

 

[XBoBJ]

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/balljoint/balljoint-1.htm there you go have fun

 

[Eisenherz]

any trick to get it out and replace it with out going through all that work or swapping axles?

 

[ECKSJAY]

any trick to get it out and replace it with out going through all that work or swapping axles?

The only thing easier is to drop it off with a mechanic and come back later in the day. Give them a credit card number and when you come back your Jeep will magically have new ball joints.