INSTALLING NEW LOWER BALL JOINTS

Boxcars

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Sep 4, 2004
I'm about to install new lower ball joints on the car. I don't want to have to remove the lower control arms. I'm going to use one of those Harbor Freight ball joint installing tools I purchased a long time ago. Seems like you just need to have the new ball joint go straight, and not cock, and the new piece will press in just fine. Has anyone using this tool done this recently? How'd you make out?

https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63279.html
 
I've used it. It's a frustrating pain in the arsehole. It will likely take you less time to remove the arm and press it out with a shop press than to mess with that giant C-clamp.

But it will work. If you must do it on the car, I recommend popping the upper ball joint and getting the spindle completely out of the way. It'll make it much easier to wrestle that clamp onto the lower arm.
 
Yes, I plan to replace the uppers also, so the spindle will be removed. I wouldn't have a problem with removing the arm, but it's a PIA to get it back up in place. I don't have a helper, but if I did, removing the arm wouldn't be a problem. I don't use spring compressor, and jacking the A-arms into position with the ball joint attached would be my method of re-assembly. The problem comes in when jacking the lower arm into position to insert the frame bolts, the arms want to move into the frame, and when working alone it's hard to get the bolts to line up with the frame saddles.

Hopefully the ball joint will go in and I won't have to remove the lower A-arm. I found more info and techniques on the G-body forum from others who were successful using this Harbor Freight tool.

https://gbodyforum.com/threads/lower-ball-joint-tricks-anyone.31088/
 

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