Yesterday I posted a "help" about getting the brake disc off. I finally got the brake disc off. Lots of Kroil Oil and a long 2X4 from the other side of the truck to give it a good bang.........Worked like a champ.

But now I can't get the bearing retainer off. I tried the various methods outlined in the various threads on ball joints. All I've done is bend a bunch of socket extensions and ruin a few 18mm sockets. It won't budge.

I tried an air hammer for about an hour with no success.

I soaked it real good with Kroil last night and will try again this morning.

Any other hints I should be thinking about?

 

Back the bolts off about one turn from finger tight, put the brakes back on it, take it out in the street and get up to about 25 mph and hammer the brakes while turning the wheel hard. A couple reps should pop it free, you will feel it when it happens.

 

Are you serious! I've received all kinds of advise, but this one is unique!

 

Did you try it? Did it work?

 

Tried everything.........Sawzall to the ball joints is next! Then I can somehow put the hub in a press and get it apart.......

I'm at a loss right now...........

 

GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had my son-in-law come over and using the power steering.......BANG!......sounded like a rifle shot. It popped free. I couldn't believe the rust for a three year old truck.

The ball joints required heat to get them out and I bent the Horrible Freight ball joint press in the process.

Thanks for all the help...................

 

For others reading: loosen the 4 bolts off, place an extension between a bolt head and the axle housing, start the truck, use the power steering to press the bearing out. As above, you have to pull HARD on the steering wheel.

 

thats the only way I pull unit bearings. except using a socket not an extension.
and agreed even with the power assist you have to put your purse down and use your man hands

though I've never hand one hold on for more than 4 good pulls on the wheel.

 

Yup, ya gotta pull like the dickens.....

So I get the bottom ball joint installed.....no big deal.

I return the Horrible Freight press that I bent and they give me another one. I return home and proceed to install the top ball joint. It gets within an 1/8" of seating and it simply will not go any further. I put never seize on it and it still won't seat.

I bent the second press in the process.......

I popped it back out and will need to try tomorrow......I'm going to rent a better press.....

Hey this is supposed to be fun!........

 

When you are installing the ball joint and you have pressure on it, use two hammers and hit the area of the axle simultaneously on either side of the ball joint. This will send a shock/vibration into the contact area between the ball joint and the area of the axle that it mounts in. This should allow the ball joint to travel the extra distance and seat.

 

It turns out the Moog ball joint is just a bit taller than the factory unit and there was rust on the bottom edge of the ball joint hole that stopped it from seating totally. But once the Moog BG is in, you have to damage the rubber skirt to remove it.......UGH!

I took my die grinder and carefully removed the rust at the bottom of the hole.

I'll try the hammer method the next time.

I just ordered another one from Rock Auto.

 

We encountered this problem as well. Before we re-installed bearings all surfaces were cleaned and then coated with anti-sieze so the next time wouldn't be such a headache. The next time they came right off with no problems.