Ball joints upper and lower

What press did you use on the upper? Did you pull the whole spindle out?

 

I did not use a press. I cut a section of steel pipe the right diameter and length and tapped it out with a hammer, which worked but was kind of a hassle. I did this on the truck, with the hub/spindle supported by a jack

If I had it to do again, I would just rent a ball joint press kit from a parts store.

 

Good luck. I tried that. That giant C clamp they give you is so big that it doesn't fit. A few people swung the spindle out and made it work. Not easy though. I'll know for next time.

 

Good to know. I just assumed the 'right way' would be easier than how I actually did it. A mistake I have made before.

 

But how did you get it back in without a press??

 

Same way, used a pipe and hammer to tap it in. This was significantly easier than getting it out. Wether you use a hammer or a press its the same process, you're just applying force and pushing the part into or out of the the socket.

 

I am yet to do this on my Tundra (it’s in the near future), but I have done many ball joint replacements on other vehicles and always used a pickle fork to get everything apart.
They’re cheap, easy, and you still get to use a hammer.

 

One of those things I keep meaning to buy but always forget until I've started the project.

 

Does a hammer work for the upper? I've seen videos using the auto part store press, but it's pretty hard to fit in there.(I'm mentally prepping for my SPC install)

 

Yes it is. You either have to be prepared to swing the spindle out or I think you can buy a Toyota ball joint press that works better.

 

This video is from a 4Runner but it’s almost exactly the same job.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-sY2azyLBuI

 

I'm having a real hard time trying to remove the ubj. The press I rented from oriellys doesn't have the correct recievers. They don't have the Honda/toyota one

Anyone know if Can I use regular wrench sockets as the recivers? If so what size?

 

To remove your UBJ you need the ball joint remover kit. Then you gotta work it in weird ways to get it to come off. That's how I did it anyways.

 

I just did one of my UBJ yesterday and I too used the removal kit from Oreilly’s which was shitty but I was able to get it out. You won’t be able to press in the replacement UBJ with that kit since it doesn’t have the correct cups. If you have an Advanced Auto near by they have the kit you need. It’s their “big” kit if they ask which one you want.
Here’s a link: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...OR 10002076 OR 10002083 OR 9150007 OR 9150042

Removal tips: disconnect your ABS sensor so can rotate the knuckle out of the wheel well. A good impact will greatly help since a breaker bar is too unstable when torquing the press.

Installing is a PITA even with the Advanced kit. Line up the new UBJ in position so it’s straight then tap it with a hammer so it stays in place while you setup the press and get into position. Hand tighten the press making sure the cups are perfectly aligned. Hit it with an impact at full torque while watching to make sure it’s going in straight. I used my fingers to feel the gap underneath while using the impact. It took me 4-5 attempts to finally get in. Had to press it out when it went in crooked. After it’s in, put the C-clip on before placing the grease filled boot over it. I bought a c-clip tool from oreilley’s. If your kit comes with the coiled up wire, make sure you straight out the wire then wrap it around twice, twist the wires together, make sure there’s about a 3/4” of twisted wire the faces towards the front of the truck (if the wire is facing the tire it may puncture the grease boot when compressed). After snipping the wire beat it down over the arm

Good luck, I did both sides LBJ, tie rod ends, swaybar links, brakes, and rotors. The UBJ was my biggest challenge but doable with patience, the right press kit, and a good impact gun.

 

Thank you got the press and got it done..going to do passager side before I turn in the press., but I ran into a problem, I took off the brake line and emptied the brake fluid and refilled it but brake line is on and brakes are very weak..

 

Gotta bleed em if you opened the line. It's got air in there.

 

I'll go ahead and save anyone the trouble of adding this.


But of course that's the whole point of a forum. A well organized, helpful thread hopefully avoids twenty-five threads on the same topic....

I'm getting up to speed on this job. I'll be doing my work outside of town. I'll have a backup vehicle to use if I need to, but it's a good 30 minute drive on mostly dirt roads to get to an auto part store (and that assumes part stores will have what I'm missing in stock). Toward the end of the video, he shows several parts that aren't included in the rented ball joint press. I'm guessing that's what the linked

$45 Powerbuilt Honda Lower Ball Joint Adapter Kit, Remove Replace Install Ball Joints, Brake Anchor Pins Service Set - 641321

Honda kit covers? I just want to make absolutely sure that the Honda kit has everything I'll need for pressing the UBJ out of the knuckle. I have the normal OTC front end kit to get to that point. But looks like the extra-specialty tools come into play once you've got the knuckle off, and are ready to press the ball joint out.

Otherwise seems like I just need some cotter pins, a 35mm socket for the axle nut, my OTC front end kit, and otherwise fairly standard tools?

Obviously I plan to do this job with the 'remove the knuckle' technique. I've looked at the other methods and this is the one I'm going with.

 

I don't think that one will do it. I had to use this one:

$55 Orion Motor Tech Ball Joint Press Kit, Heavy Duty Ball Joint Removal Tool Kit with 4x4 Adapters, for Most 2WD and 4WD Cars and Light Trucks

https://www.amazon.com/OrionMotorTech-Heavy-Removal-Adapters-Trucks/dp/B01N7CO50E?th=1

Lemme find the thread with my description of how to do it.


Post number 5 kinda explains how to do it.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/front-wheel-bearing-and-hub-replacement.63508/

 

When I did my upper ball joints I "rented" the ball joint press kit, and the ball joint press accessory kit from Autozone and had everything I needed.
I also removed my steering knuckle when changing the ball joints (did wheel bearings too), so I actually didn't even use the ball joint press at all, just the accessory kit. I used a shop press to change my upper ball joints, was very easy on the press.

 

Hm. Well it seems like people do it different ways...My plan is to rent the large c-clamp ball joint press, and my understanding from reading this thread is that the kit I linked has the missing cup sizes. Hopefully that's true. Already spent the money.

 

Rent this kit too as I used cups from this set for mine:
https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-...l/p/oemtools-master-ball-joint-set/787835_0_0

 

This is ultimately the truth. I tried a few other ways people had success, only to find their method, with similar adapters, wasn't working for me at all. My reality is, even when I had the knuckle off, the combination of cups and such I ended up using was totally different from what others did.

Have a basic kit. If you can't get a cup combo that works, don't mull over it for an hour or two trying to find workarounds like I did on my 1st attempt, before bailing and buttoning everything up (I was sick that day, related to some tonsil cysts). Instead, just pull the knuckle, or go to the local parts store and rent a kit like @kentuckyMarksman suggests, so you've got more options to work with.

 

Alright. Between my OTC front end kit, the rented ball joint kit and the Honda cup kit, I'll assume anything I might be missing can be addressed with large hammer.

Thanks.

 

For the UBJ, I tried every combination of parts store kits and none of them worked for me. I bought this set from total chaos and it worked wonders.

https://www.chaosfab.com/product/2001-2007-Toyota-Sequoia-Ball-Joint-Removal-Tool-96005

 

I'll also say that if the stud of the UBJ is too tall when pressing it out you can cut it with an angle grinder to make it shorter.

 

@assassin10000 encouraged me to grab those too, that they're awesome. I was my typical stubborn ass self.

This, in a nutshell was my problem. Had I cut the stud down, I could've easily pressed out the UBJ using the 20yr old shitty HF kit I had with the knuckle still installed.

 

I did read a tutorial where they cut the top off with a sawsall. I guess I could try that, rather than removing the knuckle, but I think I'd rather just pull the knuckle, get it in a vice, and save myself some frustration.

Yeah that Chaos Fab kit would have been nice. Same price as the Honda kit, but only the exact parts I'll need. Maybe I'll work on putting together an official ball joint thread where all this stuff is listed, as best as possible, in one post, so people know the different methods and what tools are needed/available for each of those methods...

 

Don't even need a vice. Just lay the MF'er on the floor and do it up.

 

"Need", no. I've done plenty of stuff on the floor. But I've also had access to a vice for some jobs, and watching the youtube videos where they use a vice, I'm always jealous. Having something up at chest level, secured, where I can stand up straight and work on it without it scraping around on the ground and me bending over is well worth it.