http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-4511-otc-8031.aspx

Yep it works on many different rigs, 96 up dodge truck that I know of, 4X4...
And have used it on many jeeps.

 

thanks for the info

 

Fantastic write up and thread...........

Does anyone know if the Harbor Freight press would work on an 06?

How about this one

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-41...atic-7865.aspx

I'm just trying not to spend $250 on a tool I might only use once.

Is it absolutely necessary to get a front end alighnment after doing either ball joints or bearings?

Thanks........

 

I have one of there presses, it will not work for what we need, you may be able to make it work getting tube and other stuff, but I would not want to try.
I know that someone will come back and say it will work and they did it.... Yep, I'm sure they did, Anything can be done if you want to work hard enough on it. The first two sets of ball joints I did, I used a BFH and it worked. Took several hrs but it worked. The correct tool takes 2 mins.

 

Thanks.......

I bet you could make a good living renting out your ball joint press......

 

****........Snap-On makes some really nice tools.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP2p--b9KGI

Great video!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....store&tool=all

 

Yep, sure could.

Sometimes its just fun to have the tools that others don't.

One of the guys at work was talking about how long it took him, days to change one side. I told him to call me when he wanted to do the other side.
It was done in about one hr.....

 

Thats cool info.
What does that one run?

I use mine the same way for u joints

 

Great thread,,,,

Well done Gadget!!!!!!!! Kudo's to you good Sir!!!!

 

Thanks guys, always glad to help.

 

I agree, well done. I need to change mine in the next month or so. Guess it is time to buy another tool.

 

If the only thing you can't fabricate is a lie your wife'll believe, you might be a redneck!

Greetings, from the gadget of the west....

A good local steel yard, a well-stocked hardware store(and I don't mean Depot or Lowe's) and a good tool or two are indispensible to the kind of tinkers that we Ramheads tend to be.... I wound up fabricating the necessary tools to change ball joints on my 91.5 D350.

I have yet to find any other group of enthusiasts, as a whole, with the ingenuity of the backyard mechanic that busts his butt to keep his Ram on the road. Keep on wrenchin', guys, it's good to see that the "age of disposability" hasn't defeated us and won't be, without a fight!

 

You haven't met what are called BMW Airhead owners!............

You ain't seen ingenuity like those folks can muster. Give them two drinking straws, a coat hanger, two sticks of peppermint gum, and they can fix anything!

 

Nice write up. You don't mention the axle seals. Outboard and inboard seals should either be lightly greased or just replaced.
I paid a guy to do my ball joints and now the axle seals are leaking. Thanks

 

You only have inner seals, the only way to get to them is to pull the gear set out. THen hole inside...
That is why I said to go easy and slow and support the axle. Also lube the axle at the point of the seal.
If you just pull the axle out and jam it back in you will cut the seal.
That is why I do the work when I can and I can be careful. If you get a bone head they will cut your seal and then about 5000-10000 miles later you will need to pull it all back down and do it again.