Ball joint removal??

[ticoman]

Hi, My left hand ball joint has play in it do to a ripped boot. How hard is it to replace just the ball joint.? I do not have access to a proper puller as I live in a remote area of Costa Rica. If I take the whole control arm off, can I press it out with a floor jack or something?. Thanks in advance, The Toyota dealer here wants $600 for a whole control arm.

 

[gungriffin]

Upper or lower?

 

[Rebus Knebus]

I think at minimum you’re going to need one of the tool kits with the oversized c-clamp. Lots of threads on here if you do a search, here’s a few to get you started (assuming lower):

Lower Ball Joint Replacement

Well, it's my turn to replace the LBJ's and repack the wheel bearings. I searched and followed the instructions on Cruisermoms thread opting for the lower control arm method of being left on the truck. I got all parts and tools lined up. Rented the ball joint press from Autozone...

forum.ih8mud.com

Lower Ball Joint Pro Tip

Hey everyone, just thought i'd share my experience replacing my lower BJ's. I ran into the typical problem most people do where the ball joint kits people rent don't have exactly the fitting they need. Most of the threads I researched here started out in a typical panicky fashion asking for...

forum.ih8mud.com

Lower Ball Joint Replacement Instructions

I just replaced the LCA ball joints with some Triple 5's sourced through AutoZone sold as DuraLast. Since there was not a thread with pictures of the actual pressing in and out process I thought I throw something together along with the tricks and tools I used to make the actual pressing...

forum.ih8mud.com

Lx470 lower ball joint removal

ok new to the site been reading tons of old threads and I'm new to these trucks usually work on Audi's. Anyway as it says I need to replace the lowers already have them my questions are can I simply unbolt the shocks since there air or is that going to damage them, also the thread on the DIY has...

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Or find a shop and take them the arm and parts?

 

[Patassa]

Hi, My left hand ball joint has play in it do to a ripped boot. How hard is it to replace just the ball joint.? I do not have access to a proper puller as I live in a remote area of Costa Rica. If I take the whole control arm off, can I press it out with a floor jack or something?. Thanks in advance, The Toyota dealer here wants $600 for a whole control arm.

Assuming you're talking about the lower ball joint, a BFH (large hammer) will do the job of removal, but you'll need to get creative with different small pieces of pipe in order to press the new one in if you use a jack as a press.

 

[gungriffin]

In the US, you can rent tools from the auto parts stores. This is how most of us get what is needed for this job. Would this be possible in Costa Rica? The tools/parts for doing this job will be substantially less than $600. You are likely to need some of these tools just to get the ball joints to break loose from the steering knuckle. While you are there, it is also a perfect time to repack your bearings.

 

[ticoman]

Upper or lower?

Sorry, I forgot to specify. It is the upper ball joint

Sorry I did not specify, It is the upper ball joint.

In the US, you can rent tools from the auto parts stores. This is how most of us get what is needed for this job. Would this be possible in Costa Rica? The tools/parts for doing this job will be substantially less than $600. You are likely to need some of these tools just to get the ball joints to break loose from the steering knuckle. While you are there, it is also a perfect time to repack your bearings.

Nope, not possible to rent tools here. I can and have separated the joint from the arm to replace the torn boot a few months ago. I cleaned it well and regreased it (there was a noticeable, but slight movement of the ball in it's socket) But since then I can here it clunking when I travel bad roads(most ) here. So I thought I would buy a 555 Brand ball joint and find a way to replace it.

 

[gungriffin]

Nope, not possible to rent tools here. I can and have separated the joint from the arm to replace the torn boot a few months ago. I cleaned it well and regreased it (there was a noticeable, but slight movement of the ball in it's socket) But since then I can here it clunking when I travel bad roads(most ) here. So I thought I would buy a 555 Brand ball joint and find a way to replace it.

It is good to hear that you were able to get the knuckle separated. That is often one of the harder tasks with replacement. I would just buy a ball joint press or take it to a machine shop to press it in. It would be hard to get the ball joint pressed back in without a c clamp style press. Will Amazon ship to you? I was easily able to get my UBJ pressed in with this exact kit:

Amazon product ASIN B0028QGT7M
You could also buy a complete arm from Partsouq if they ship to you. Here is the link to Partsouq for a upper control arm for my 1999 100 series. It is only $261 plus probably $50-100 in shipping. Just toss your vin into their home page to confirm it is the same part for your truck.

FRONT AXLE ARM & STEERING KNUCKLE | Toyota LAND CRUISER 100 UZJ100L-GNPEKA UZJ100 | Parts Catalogs | PartSouq

If you are looking for FRONT AXLE ARM & STEERING KNUCKLE Parts for Toyota LAND CRUISER 100 UZJ100L-GNPEKA UZJ100 then we advise you to pay attention to the range of our spare parts catalog for Toyota!

partsouq.com

 

[ticoman]

Thanks For your reply. I have ordered off of Partsoug before and that is fine. The problem comes from this end, The importation tax is staggering, probably 50% on top of shipping etc. I will buy a Ball joint and try to do it my self. Living in the Jungle is fun and all, but it does present some challenges

 

[2001LC]

Some thought to get you started Macqyver!

Some upper ball joints, aren't that hard to press in and out. You may find a few large C clamps get the job done. Both in and out.

Key is when pressing in, press in squarly. If you get ball joints off, so one side in deeper than other, during pressing in. It will bind and be a beast to press in.

I fear living in a jungle, you've excessive rust. Which rust can be a PITA to deal with, causing ball joint to be frozen in. If you take off UCA, and soak ball joint end in old transmission fluid for a few days. It will loosen the rust. You can than remove boot and lock ring, locking in ball joint. Place a large socket/metal receiver cup over ball joint as a solid brace to drive ball joint into. Pound it out. Key is solid surface to pound into, holding control arm without any flex.

Press in UBJ, on the bench (UCA off): Clean the hole ball joint fits into. Lube receiver hole with grease. If you have a large vise, and something to use as a receive cup for ball joint, holding UCA solidly. You'll press in easily. If not, you may rig sometime using your jack and weight of vehicle as backstop (hold UCA firmly). Which receiver cup, is anything that holds control arm firmly, as you press or tap in ball joint. Even using some point of frame, where you can get control arm to hold in place. Places that come to mind, are frame to cross-member corners, which you'll fine a few points where frame meets a cross-member. Than use jack to press ball joint up into LCA, while LCA held in place against frame. You can also tap in ball joint with care. Just avoid pounding directly on ball joint with steel to steel, if you can. Using brass hammer is one good option, or brass plate, rod, etc.. Or place a flat steel plaste on ball joint, to pound on to.The key is solid receiver cup while pressing or tapping in, all power goes into ball joint. If your receiver ( UCA) is moving or flexing, you loose power.

I can't stress enough. The key is ball joint is lined up squarly as yo press in. If it gets cocked at angle, while pressing in. Stop pry out and start again.

Have fun!