I'm trying to do the ball joints on my truck. I'm having problems with getting the axle nut off. Is it reverse threads or something? I'm afraid of breaking my breaker bar that I'm using.

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

 

Time and a good rust spray usually works. If you haven't pre-applied the spray and can't wait, get ready to grunt. It's standard "Rirghty-Tightey"

 

Ok, i got the axle nuts off. I need to know what size socket to get the ball joint nuts off. I didn't realize that I didn't have the right size. Can someone please post the size for the upper and the lower nut.

Thanks,

 

Update, I have been able to get the old ball joints on the drivers side out. However the ball joint press that I rented from the local auto store was not big enough to get the new joints pressed in. I was barely able to get the old ones out, none of the cups that came with it and the cup kit I rented would work to get the new ones in.

Does any one know where to get a ball joint press that will work on these trucks? A part number or website I can order it from would help greatly.

Someone suggested put the ball joints in the freezer and then trying to just slide them in. Not sure if this would work or not.

 

There are different kits available, and apparently you don't have the right size. I would check with the place that rented the set to you- do they have a bigger set? Or, you could take the outer ends to a shop, and see what they will charge to press the old ones out and the new ones in. I did that, and the old fella charged me $25.

 

Unfortunately the knuckles on the 03 and up trucks is part of the axle tube, so it doesn't come off the truck. I was able to get the old ones out, just not get the new ones in. I found this cup kit http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,12202. Has anyone used this kit?

 

I have OTC 8031, I used it this weekend and it worked well will do balljoints through 04(I would assume it would do all Third Gen Trucks). Cost 300ish

 

Thanks for all the advice so far. Looks like I will have to wait until I can order the ball joint press on payday. Still gonna be cheaper than having a shop do the work.

 

In Mr. Gadget's excellent write up on ball joint replacement atleast a couple of guys said that they had in fact been successful using the Harbor Freight press to do this job. HF has two different press kits but both presses are the same size, the smaller version.

I guess that a little ingenuity in fitting up cups or thinking outside the box and finding other things to use as cups is in order. It doesn't make much sense IMO to buy a $300+ press kit to do one or two ball joint jobs if there is an alternative, even if the alternative doesn't make you "feel" like a pro.

 

I used the Harbor Freight press and cup kit (same as auto zone rental), and like others said you have to be creative but it will work.

 

I was creative with the one from Advanced auto parts as well and it worked. Going by the directions they provide won't work, but if you tweak things a little bit you can make it work. I would also try the freezer trick, every little bit helps!

 

Cups in the freezer and heat up the knuckle? Might work.

 

The freezer may not be enough to change the shape of steel or chromoly. I don't know what your working with. Usually you would use a dry ice machine and a 600* oven for components that are that precise of a fit.