Has anyone changed there own ? how hard is it ? are they hard to get in and out ? going to do mine first thing tom. morning. Just wondering what I might be getting into ? Thanks Andy

 

I changed mine, but 2wd, so don't know about yours. On mine the lower was very hard to remove, almost broke the press and my back. Don't think the 4x4 has the lower.

 

4X4 has upper and lower ball joints. Just had all 4 of mine replaced at 76k miles.

 

I haven't done an 01 yet but the 2nd gens aren't bad. Make sure you get a good ball joint press. Makes life a lot easier.

 

They arent too bad. Get a ball joint press and you can do it in a days time, maybe less.

 

Wheres a good place to get a ball joint press?

 

I just started mine today. It didn't sound like a big deal but it took me all day and I only got the driver's side done. I rented a ball joint press from Autozone but either I don't know how to use it or it isn't big enough for my truck. Also, I couldn't get the right size spacer to press them back in so I had to use a socket and a big washer. I think I screwed up my upper ball joint because to plate where the zerk is was puckered up. I hit down with a socket and hammer but I'll probably be replacing that one shortly. The hardest part was seperating the hub assembly from the knuckle. That took me about three hours. The book said to just loosen the bolts on the back and tap them to seperate it but of course it wasn't that easy. Hopefuly tomorrow will go better. Some how, I don't think so.

Doug

PS. Hope you have better luck aceheater. Don't let my experience worry you. Everyone else has seemed to have no problems with the repair

 

My front hubs just poped off when I removed the 4 bolts, but I live in a NO SALT area and don't have any rust to contend with. Makes a big difference.
The ball joint press that I use is an OTC. Works great. Many auto parts stores rent them and sell them too. I think I paid $125 for mine about 25 years ago and the price is still about that.

 

Harbor frieght has the C clamp type for 39.00, you can catch them on sale for 29.00 sometimes. Well worth it. They can also be used for things like u joints.

See this link: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/balljoint.php

Good luck, Kevin

 

ok well got them changed and I have to say do not look forward to doing that again anytime soon. seperating the hub from the knuckle was by far the worst part. took about 3 hours each and alot of swearing and bloody knuckles. went back together with alot of never seize. got my guages in that went smooth and got my track bar fixed with the lukes link that went smooth and replaces my power steering pump and that went smooth other than trying to get the air bled out. all and all I am happy it is all done now just get it alinged. oh and I need to get a different boost guage got a 0 to 30 need a 0 to 60 pegs the needle on the 30. oh and put on my 2" leveling spacers also that didn't go to bad either.

 

Well, this post was timed almost perfectly. I was just getting to start a thread on how to remove the hub. I've tried hitting the bolts (backed out slightly of course), I've tried using an air chisel, I've SOAKED everything with penetrating oil, I've tried using a steel plate across the front of the hub (across the axle shaft, and held by six lug nuts), I've tried heat (just a propane torch), I've tried hitting the ball joints with an air chisel so I could cut the ball joints out, and probably a half dozen other things I'm forgetting. I'm getting close to 10 hours between both sides. There is some rust, but nothing serious. Any ideas I haven't tried?

 

The only thing that got my hubs off (tried all above the things Scram250 listed) was the socket method. If you have 4 wheel abs, you have to do something special or you will break something???Someone may chime in. 2 wheel abs your fine.

After youve pulled all your bolts and nuts off and are ready to pop off hub, turn your steering wheel all the way to the right.(tie-rod still has to be attached)
This method is for the driver side hub. Only difference between the two, is to turn the wheel to the left for the pass. side hub.

Okay, rotate the alxe shaft so that the outside joint is horizontal and the inside is verticle. Now get a big socket, 1 3/4 or so (anything resembling that shape and size) and place it inbetween your outside u-joint and axle tube.( the verticle u shaped mount for the hub).
While someone holds the socket in place, start the truck and turn the wheel to the left untill the socket will stay in place, have person back away, keep turning untill hub pops off. Very easy method.

It took me 8 hrs to get one side off using many unsuccessfull methods untill i found this one. Next side took 30 mins to get off. From pulling lug nuts to poping hub off. 30 mins.

Ask any questions, because i know it looks clear as mud. But when you get in there and do it, its too easy.

 

That's a pretty good tip. Sometimes those hubs can be a BEAR to pop loose.

 

make sure to clean up the shoulder on the hub and use plenty of anti sieze on all the parts and you will be very happy with your self the next time you have to take things apart....

 

I actualy tried that yesterday with a socket and extention. I had the extention against the mount where the trailing arms are attached. It just bent the mount and didn't budge my hub. I had just beat the crap out of it with a hammer and chisel and they finally came apart. I had a total of 11 hours of ball joint madness.

Doug