Need a little ball joint help

[cruffleluficus]

I'm in the middle of replacing ball joints on my truck. Been a real PITA so far-lots of rusty bolts and all. So now I'm trying to get the top one loose, and so far I can't get it to budge. I've pretty much ruined my pickle fork on it, and so far I've nearly removed the ball from the socket rather than releasing the taper of the ball joint. Any good ideas out there? I've put heat on it, lots of PB Blaster, lots of cussing at it. Next option appears to be cutting it off and drill through then do a relief cut, but I'm open to opinions.

Also, I've pretty well flattened the bottom of the sleeve where the ball joint fits. Is that a problem?

Thanks
Chris

[jc82chevyman]

Do you have the ball joint nuts off if so just get a bfh and some heat a couple of cold bud lights and keep working at these damn things can be real temperamental at times and just remember if it was easy everybody would do it

[SCOTTSF250]

Hey you probably have figured this out but I know when I replaced mine I was pressing and banging on mine, one of my buddies noticed a C-Clip holding one of them in.

[Cashflo]

whats a fair pricde sor a shop to do ball joints? Got one saying $700+ and another saying it only a 3 hr job . is there a particular brand of ball joint to get. This is my first truck and ive only had it since june.
Sorry for the hyjack of thread

[SCOTTSF250]

Originally Posted by Cashflo

whats a fair pricde sor a shop to do ball joints? Got one saying $700+ and another saying it only a 3 hr job . is there a particular brand of ball joint to get. This is my first truck and ive only had it since june.
Sorry for the hyjack of thread

If you are mechanically inclined in any way, go to NAPA, AUTO ZONE or whatever auto store you have around, buy the ball joints and replace them yourself. In the end you will save yourself about $500.00 greenbacks. It took me and a friend about four three hours to complete the replacement of both upper/lower on both sides.
As for brand of ball-joint, if you pay a cheap price for a ball-joint then expect a cheap quality ball-joint.

[Bad Night]

Air chisel , works like a charm .

[SCOTTSF250]

Originally Posted by Bad Night

Air chisel , works like a charm .

Never broke out the air chisel to remove the joints or break them loose from the control arms

[Cashflo]

are there any special tool required. anyone got a link to a write up an process? Ive done altenators, ps pumps,ac condensors but nothing in the suspension and always on a mid size car. Am i going to need "big air" i have a husky 650lb impact but ive had caliper bracket bolt that wouldn,t budge with that.

My dad would help me he was a heavy diesel mechanic ( Cat, Kenworth, tansit busses) but has sold almost all his tools for multiple reasons.

My thing is time is not on my side. I only get to see my family on weekends and taking a day or two out of that isn't a good idea for my marriage.

[Bad Night]

I did it on my srw 99 plow truck . They wouldn't break loose , exact same story as this guy . Put the nut back on a few threads , put a flat round bit in the air chisel and put it inside of the nut . If I remember correctly I put a 4x4 under the control arm . Couple of blasts and it was right out .

[SCOTTSF250]

The only thing special you will require is the ball-joint press, which you can rent from an auto store (receive credit back upon return) to press the ball-joints out of the wheel bearing housing. Other then that, it's SAE wrenches, 8 or 10mm to remove the ABS sensor bolt, a brass punch to remove the bearing seal from the housing and some good ole muscle.