how much to press new ball joints?

[Williebeaman]

So i took the plunge and tried doing my own ball joints. It was all smoOth sailing I hit a little snag getting the knuckle off but i finally got it only to find the shitty ball joint press i rented from auto zone sucks and I cant make them budge. I was thinking ill just take it to a shop bit how much will they charge? I can buy a 12 ton press at HF for 140 should i just do that?

 

[Bent77]

Well a press may serve you well later as well as for ball joints. You have to support the knuckle well or you can bend it
Do a couple of YouTube and google searches

Until the last few years, I pressed them in with a hammer

 

[sweetk30]

Put pressure on the ball joint and WACK the knuckle with a 3 to 4 lb hammer to shock it . The ball joint should move .

And skip the 12 ton press and get the 20 ton . But as said you need to support the knuckle correctly or you will bend it or break it . This is why the tool you was made for this job .

 

[bp71k5]

Do I remember right that the ball joints have a little clip you have to remove before pressing out? It’s been a while. The ball joints should require that much force to remove. Just hit the side of the knuckle with a hammer to shock them a bit.

 

[Williebeaman]

Yea there is a snap rong on the lower but i removed it. I tried everything they wont move. I also dont have a nice work bench or a vice as im in an apartment so maybe that's my issue

 

[diesel4me]

First time I did ball joints on a GM 4x4 I used a 5 lb ball pein hammer and a hunk of pipe and a piece of steel round solid bar stock to get them out..and back in..

I had a hard time at first getting them out,they refused to budge..then I realized I was trying to pound them out in the wrong direction..the bottom one has to be pressed up towards the upper one,and the upper one has to be pushed down towards the bottom one..the opposite of all the ones I'd done previously on cars....once I realized that they came right out..

 

[bp71k5]

First time I did ball joints on a GM 4x4 I used a 5 lb ball pein hammer and a hunk of pipe and a piece of steel round solid bar stock to get them out..and back in..

I had a hard time at first getting them out,they refused to budge..then I realized I was trying to pound them out in the wrong direction..the bottom one has to be pressed up towards the upper one,and the upper one has to be pushed down towards the bottom one..the opposite of all the ones I'd done previously on cars....once I realized that they came right out..

I also made that mistake. And I was using a ballpoint press.

 

[Williebeaman]

Well i stopped by a brake shop thats right next to the bbq joint i own and they pressed the old ones out and new ones in in about 5 minutes all for the price of a couple brisket sandwiches!

 

[sweetk30]

Well i stopped by a brake shop thats right next to the bbq joint i own and they pressed the old ones out and new ones in in about 5 minutes all for the price of a couple brisket sandwiches!

there ya go did you watch them so you learned for next time ?