Ronco95

The rubber boots on my ball joints have rotted off. I need to replace the joint and be done before a problem occurs and I am caught in a bind.

The factory manual, of course, shows special tools to press in and press out the ball joints. I have never installed the lower ball joints from the top like the manual says, only from the bottom.

Do I need the press or can I use a good hammer to drive the joints out and gently drive them in?

Are there any part suppliers that you recommend to stay away from?

What should I have to pay for a set of lower 2WD ball joints?

Thanks in Advance,

Ronnie

johnh

my '01 2wd lower ball joints are riveted in..... they must have made a change

auto zone has them from 30 to 90 dollars for the lower

CarlJensen

They are press in joints and you can check the tools out from Auto Zone or the like. Not very expensive but get the good joints from Moog or like. You can get the joints with zerk fittings so they can be lubed. Mine were tack welded in from the plant so I had to grind the tacks off before pressing out.

ET RAM

You can borrow the tools from Auto Zone or buy from HF. I bought my press from HF. I had to cut some pipe to use with one of the ball joint as the kit did not fit. The joints are tack welded but pressed in. I used Moog with grease fitting and lifetime warranty. I grease them every oil change. This was my first time doing this job and I had no problems. I used a Haynes manual for info.

rock mafia

I rented the tool from autozone. I knocked them out with a hammer, they were not in there very tight. Used one of the adapters in the kit to hammer them back in without damaging them.

I got the joints here, looked to be decent quality for the price, but I knew I was going to sell the truck anyway.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Bal...spagenameZWD1V

Ronco95

Thanks for the input.

Ronnie

heykw

I did a 96 not to long ago and the upper are very difficult to get back in