bad lower ball joint...

[alteredraptor]

i dont know if theres a thread on here about how to replace a lower ball joint if so can someone point me in the right spot... but i have an 87 runner that needs a new lower ball joint and i dont know how to replace it... if any one can help that would be great

 

[Family 40's]

Get a haynes manual... Its not too hard, I usually take remove the whole spindle. I may be forgetting a few steps but this is what I remember: jack the truck up, I usually put the jack stand under the frame so the lower control arm can hang at full droop. It makes it easier you can use the floor jack to put the balljoints back in... take the hub off, remove the C clip from the CV, remove the caliper, and tie rod bracket, use a pickle fork to loosen up the ball joints upper and lower. Its easiest to use an impact gun, sometimes they can be quite hard to remove, especially if they have never been taken apart. Then just reverse the process. Insert the lower ball joint, then use the floor jack to raise the control arm and spindle to get the upper ball joint in its proper hole. If that makes sense, just did all this yesterday on my buddies 4runner and a few days ago with my Truck. Good luck. Oh and the tools nice to have while performing this:

Impact gun with compressor
Pickle fork
snap ring pliars
if you have auto hubs, a punch to remove the cone washers on the hubs

Another thing too when you have all this apart it is a good time to look at your other components, and replace as required, since its all apart. Good luck, Cheers

Kyle

 

[alteredraptor]

thanx man, i have a haynes and all the tools you mention needed... after reading this and what haynes has to say are two different things... i tried the way the book says and the bj is stuck in place... next chance i get ill try it your way and if nothing happens ill be back here lookin for the next direction to go in...

 

[Family 40's]

One more thought, on the components you plan on keeping, before using a hammer to break them free, thread a nut on, other wise you will destroy them.
Good luck.

 

[WristPin]

me personally, i dont use that method at all

not the pickle fork. its a waste of time.

since you got it torn down this far, just beat the snot out of it with a hammer.

 

[Family 40's]

Yeah, funny you say that, I elected to try the pickle fork but found that the BFH was my best friend... I only made progress using it. I do agree with you!

-Kyle

 

[alteredraptor]

i ran into a small snag... the lbj is kinda stuck... i even tried jacking my truck up from the stud for it... suggestions... am i gonna need to replace that little arm too??

 

[alteredraptor]

please say no and that im just being stupid

 

[WristPin]

get a bigger hammer!
serious.

 

[alteredraptor]

ill have to find one and try it...

 

[WristPin]

search: Astro Tools Ball joint press

 

[raydouble]

I've got a cheap Craftsman pickle fork and BFH that worked just fine for my lower balljoints.

I think you are fighting the pressure from the torsion bar pressing down on the knuckle, I needed a friend and big pry bar.

 

[alteredraptor]

i have a big 5-foot pry bar and i actually started to bend it.... i also bent a three foot one... that sucked!!!

 

[Family 40's]

Yeah, I found myself beating on my my lower ball joints, and on my buddies four runner. It does help if you are not on the ground and have access to a lift, just a lot easier to work with. Pry bars wont separate the ball joint like the BFH will. I had problems getting the lower ball joint to loosen up so I had a buddy beat on it and he got it loose, props for buddies with anger issues!

 

[alteredraptor]

yea... i used to have access to one but now im stuck workin off jack stands... if all else fails and i am unsuccessful in my driveway, i will attempt to ask someone that has a lift and more tools than i... so with any kind of luck ill be able to do so myself... and unlucky me i dont know anyone that has anger issues

 

[ms018kmf]

I'm interpreting this as a ball joint with the nut loose that will not move. Nothing will budge until the ball joint taper is cracked free. Napa, CSK, AZ all have ball joint tools that can knock it out of there for about 15$. If you mean the nut itself I'd use a cheater on a 1/2 drive.

 

[alteredraptor]

yea... its the ball joint itself... the weather by me hasnt been nice enough to stay outside long enough to do enough work so i havent had the chance to do much of anything... im hoping this weekend would prove otherwise for me

 

[pokie1313]

You need to heat the area up. I've used a torch (propane or map) in similar situations but you have to be careful to shield sensitive components from the heat (cv, wheel bearings). Or just plan on replacing them. The f***ing thing must come off, after all.
You can also try the kama sutra approach if brute force isn't working: apply tension over time with a press . . . apply tension, leave for a few hours . . . turn the screw some more, wait . . . maybe apply some heat, turn the screw some more . . . turn the screw some more, be patient. She will come eventually, I promise.

 

[alteredraptor]

You need to heat the area up.

does the area need to be glowing at all, somewhat, or just needs heat and a bfh??

 

[ms018kmf]

Heating the nut is a great idea, maybe not red hot. Too hot and you can damage the heat treatment of the ball joint seat.