What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

It's a little snug... **DONE with the balljoints**

Avery4jc

Avery4jc

1 ton status
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Posts
10,790
Reaction score
164
Location
Fresno, Ca.
but with the 35's on I can FINALLY fit the k10 in my garage! This will make doing ball joints much nicer :)

I'm headed out to get started and hopefully I'll be taking a test drive later tonight. :D

IMG_2087.jpg

IMG_2088.jpg

IMG_2089.jpg

IMG_2090.jpg

IMG_2091.jpg

IMG_2092.jpg
 
Last edited:
NEK5 said:
I hate these threads.....:p:
Click to expand...

Yeah I can understand why, I've been wrenching on the k10 outside from day one. This is the first time it's been able to fit in the garage but it was pretty close, I rubbed the dust shield that goes around the frame of the garage...




 
you need a bigger garage. I used to be able to fit my old truck in my dads garage with 9" of lift and 39.5's :D

But he also built it for a big truck so.....:haha:
 
you ever think to air down the tires for added clearance or to make it fit? if you didn't have quite enough
 
Looks like the damn Sherwood Forest. :doah::haha:
 
DEMON44 said:
you ever think to air down the tires for added clearance or to make it fit? if you didn't have quite enough
Click to expand...

Yep, it still wasn't enough with the 38.5's though...

thatK30guy said:
Looks like the damn Sherwood Forest. :doah::haha:
Click to expand...

:D That's my mom's vine... it started out as a stick about 3 years ago... no leaves, hardly any roots... just a stick and a little tap root and now the thing goes nuts. I have to hack off big pieces of it every week.





Well tonight didn't go quite as I was hoping... I got everything pulled apart down to the knuckle then I pulled the tie-rod off and secured it to the side.
I spent two hours driving around town looking for the socket to get the upper ball joint nut off and finally found it at a Kragen.
So I pulled the upper nut off and was able to get a wrench on the lower one and got it off too and that's basically where it ended.

I thought I was going to be able to use the ball-joint tool to pull them out then slide the knuckle off but after reading an article I realized the lower one has to come off first then the upper one slides out with the knuckle... then once it's out you can use the tool to extract the upper ball joint from the knuckle.

Unless I'm mistaken it looks like the only way to get the lower ball joint out is to use a pickle fork between the lower C and the ball joint.
 
Atleast you can drive yours into the garage. I have to let all the air out of the tires, and disconect the door from the opener to get my K5 in. Ever try driving with 0psi in your tires? No control over direction. I have to push it with my Jeep.
 
Standard garage 6" lift and 44" tires, I still fit in.

blazertiltfront014.jpg


I can even open the front after i'm in.
 
Well I got it all torn down to the bare housing and decided to go ahead and replace the lower ones too... I had originally just bought uppers to save some money but in an attempt at being cheap I think I'll end up costing more time and money down the road so I'm off to NAPA to get a set of lowers...
I should be done later tonight.
 
I just pounded on the knuckle and it came off with both ball joints in it.
Tarey
 
cegusman said:
Don't think he got that far yet. But my prediction is going to be "Snap, gawd damn POS cheap china made tool!, Off to the parts store to rent a good one.":doah::haha:
Click to expand...

I've done ball joints with mt HF press a few times. Haven't had any problems with it so far (knock on wood). I've also done some u-joints and leaf spring bushings. Every time I've used it it's been with the 1/2" impact driving it. FWIW the one I rented from Autozone (before I bought mine) was a HF unit. Allot of the tools I've thought about renting/friends have rented have been HF ones.
 
We tried to use the HF one once broke on the 1st ball joint. Rented one from Oreil'y Auto Parts, KD Tools brand. Worked like a charm. Still have it the manager knew me and told me to keep it. Was just going to say it was lost. :)
 
Unless I'm mistaken it looks like the only way to get the lower ball joint out is to use a pickle fork between the lower C and the ball joint.
Click to expand...

If you have a manual, they show pictures of how to make a tool from a big bolt and a nut and washer. It worked fine for me.
 
Ok guys it's been a looooong morning but we're making progress.
The passenger side is completely done and I'm getting ready to go out and start the driver's side.
The harbor freight press worked like a charm getting them in and out. I did manage to break my impact gun though so that cost me some time (had to go buy a new one).

Here's some progress pics...

Fresh ball joints in the knuckle...
IMG_2119.jpg


IMG_2120.jpg


Bare housing...
IMG_2121.jpg


IMG_2124.jpg


Getting it back together...
IMG_2128.jpg


and finally done...
IMG_2129.jpg


IMG_2132.jpg


Everything is nice and snug, it eliminated all of the play in the front end so I think I'm good to go. Now I just have to go do the other side :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom