GsxrMike
1/2 ton status
Standard garage 6" lift and 44" tires, I still fit in.
I can even open the front after i'm in.
You chopped your windshield didn't you? NOT FAIR!
CK5
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It's a little snug... **DONE with the balljoints**
- Thread starter Avery4jc
- Start date
You chopped your windshield didn't you? NOT FAIR!
I just went up and down the street and it looks like I'm good to go. I backed her back in the garage and I'm headed out to start the other side... hopefully this side will go a little quicker now that I have all the tools/supplies/know-how...
NEK5
3/4 ton status
I hate you west coasters. It`s too dark, and the spot light isn`t enough for me, so I quit for the night. Since I`m off the night at work though, that means I`m gonna get out there as soon as it starts getting light out there (about 7am) 
It's pitch black outside here too... being in the garage helps out though, the light seems to bounce around and stay contained a little better than in the driveway.
Well I have the driver's side torn all the way down to the knuckle but the pickle fork and I aren't getting along right now. I put some panther piss on the ball joint and I'm letting it soak in for a little bit. Hopefully it'll pop out so I can get rolling tonight at some point.
Well I have the driver's side torn all the way down to the knuckle but the pickle fork and I aren't getting along right now. I put some panther piss on the ball joint and I'm letting it soak in for a little bit. Hopefully it'll pop out so I can get rolling tonight at some point.
Ahahaha I finally got the freakin' knuckle off!!!!
I've been working on it non-stop for over an hour but it finally broke loose!
It's 7:00 so if I don't run into any other snags I should be able to finish tonight.
I've been working on it non-stop for over an hour but it finally broke loose!
It's 7:00 so if I don't run into any other snags I should be able to finish tonight.
chevysmithz71
1/2 ton status
How did it go??
DONE!!!!
I'm getting cleaned up a bit and then taking it for a test drive... the driver's side was a PITA compared to the passenger side but at least it's done...
All new bearings/seals/u-joints and ball-joints! That's quite a project.
I'm getting cleaned up a bit and then taking it for a test drive... the driver's side was a PITA compared to the passenger side but at least it's done...
All new bearings/seals/u-joints and ball-joints! That's quite a project.
Avery, what was your skill/knowlege level with this project before you started? Wasit all new to you? Did you learn as you go or just kinda wing it? Don't know if I need to do it to my '72 yet but I'm sure I'll have too down the line and would like to do it myself if it wasn't too difficult. Any noob with a manual and partial intelligence can do it?????
I didn't exactly "wing it" but I do generally learn how to do stuff by diving in head first with the idea that I don't have to finish the same day (so don't rush it/cut corners).
The only thing I specifically looked up before I started was all the torque specs for everything but other than that I just started tearing it apart and paid attention to how it all went together.
It didn't take a lot of tools but it did take some odd-ball ones... like the nut on the upper ball joint is 33mm so I had to go track down that socket. You'll also need a special tool that looks like a spindle socket but it only has 4 teeth... you use it to remove/install/torque the collar that goes around the upper ball joint. On the subject of spindle nuts you'll need the socket to do that too... and obviously you'll need a pickle fork but after beating on one for over an hour tonight I'd HIGHLY recommend a pneumatic chisel with a pickle fork attachment.
Here's a document that I used as a reference to get an idea of what I was in for. Is it the holy grail of ball-joint how to? Nope... but it'll get you started.
http://nashvillek5.freeservers.com/balljoints.htm
I drove the truck a few miles and man o' man have I missed being able to cruise around in the k10. The only hiccup we ran into was my caliper was rubbing my rim (I haven't even been able to really drive it since I got the 35" TSL's) so I had a late night session with the grinder to take care of it. The TSL's weren't all that bad IMO... I got up to about 45mph or so tonight but I'm going to take it to work tomorrow to get some freeway time and see how they do.
Well you did mention the spanner socket for the upper ball joint preload, did you preload it to spec?
Also there isn't a ball joint, tie rod end, or draglink end that i can't get off without a pickle fork in less than aboiut 10 seconds. BIG ball pein hammer and knowing where to hit is the key.
Also there isn't a ball joint, tie rod end, or draglink end that i can't get off without a pickle fork in less than aboiut 10 seconds. BIG ball pein hammer and knowing where to hit is the key.
I did all that to mine about a month ago. I got that small spanner socket from Napa. Used a big hammer like 4X4High said. Took the knuckles to Jason and he pressed the ball joints out and in. Did the U joints myself.
That was my first time doing ball joints on a truck, easy after I did it.
My GM service manual was a big help.
Tarey
That was my first time doing ball joints on a truck, easy after I did it.
My GM service manual was a big help.
Tarey
Well you did mention the spanner socket for the upper ball joint preload, did you preload it to spec?
Also there isn't a ball joint, tie rod end, or draglink end that i can't get off without a pickle fork in less than aboiut 10 seconds. BIG ball pein hammer and knowing where to hit is the key.
Yep threaded them in by hand then put the knuckle on and tightened the lower nut to 75ft/lbs then torqued the upper ball joint sleeve to 50ft/lbs then tightened the upper ball joint nut to 100ft/lbs...
Well congrats, wish you were here tonight but I really doubt anyone would have popped this driver's side out any faster. I never have problems with TRE's or my draglink but this sucker was STUCK.
My buddy has a pneumatic chisel with the pickle fork attachment and it's definitely on my list of tools to get.
Reading through old Ball Joint posts, those pics are helpful. Thanks Avery!
I'm sure I have a bunch of pics on my computer if you need anything let me know.
Avery,
Is this the EXACT ball joint press kit you used?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335
Or do you have one of the 4wd specific ones? I want to make sure i have the right size sleeves in my kit. I can buy the other kit at harbor freight if needed, but i would rather not.
Is this the EXACT ball joint press kit you used?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335
Or do you have one of the 4wd specific ones? I want to make sure i have the right size sleeves in my kit. I can buy the other kit at harbor freight if needed, but i would rather not.
Yep that's the exact one I have... if I remember I had to play around with the setup to get it all working right but it did work. I've used that clamp for TONS of stuff since I got it. Compressing old leaf spring packs while I put the centering pin in, doing u-joints without having to have a vice (if you have a CO2 tank and a cheap impact you can take on the trail it's nice)... so yeah it's one of the best $40 I've spent.
Cool. Thats the one i have, and will use. I managed to do the IFS control arm bushings with that setup. Wish i had a bigger compressor setup, but it worked.
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
I did the ball joints on mine with that press.
Sweet. Should be all good to start jamming on this friday night! Although im sure something will come up, having all your ducks in a row and knowing you have thought through it throuroughly beforehand is a good feeling!
