In that case you might want a tool with a larger opening. So the pivot point is higher. Like this:
Lower Ball Joint really screwing with me
- Thread starter lesgarten
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2 jaw puller and some love taps worked on both of mine. I did have to cut 1 3/4 and 1/2 inch sections of a 2 1/8th i.d. pipe to press the new ones in. It all together sucked.
I used an oreillys ball joint rental kit to press the new ones in. Took some arm strength but they went in.
I used an oreillys ball joint rental kit to press the new ones in. Took some arm strength but they went in.
best source for new lower ball joints? im fairly certain i will be installing new ones this month
- Thread starter
- #44
didnt see it on the website when i looked last night. will have to call. have bearing kits to order from them too. Thanks!
edit: found it
p/n SUS43340
edit: found it
p/n SUS43340
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- Thread starter
- #46
i didnt want to say it, but....it's not efficient.
- Thread starter
- #48
I believe napa makes (or markets) a nice lower ball joint but i got the 555 made in japan parts from cruiser outfitters.
mdcoa
SILVER Star
Just went through this myself (to include the left diff seal leak after getting everything buttoned back up--so fun). I watched @OTRAMM 's video in which he pretty much just pops the BJs off with a hammer. Tried that myself--no dice. At all. After lots of core work with a 5 lb sledge on one side and a 2 lb hammer on the other. Then I tried my little crab claw ball joint tool, which is super awesome for tie rod ends but not big enough for this job.
Then I bought this kit:
Amazon product ASIN B07F34PJFX
Which has enough different pullers in it that I was able to a) destroy one by first modifying it to fit over the LBJ and then stripping the threads on it--the slightly larger version of the crab claw puller and b) find some that worked on the top and bottom ball joint (different pullers) and get the doggone things apart.
Not the most amazing quality (ref a) above), but $50 for a pretty wide range of pullers was the sweet spot for me.
Then I bought this kit:
Amazon product ASIN B07F34PJFX
Which has enough different pullers in it that I was able to a) destroy one by first modifying it to fit over the LBJ and then stripping the threads on it--the slightly larger version of the crab claw puller and b) find some that worked on the top and bottom ball joint (different pullers) and get the doggone things apart.
Not the most amazing quality (ref a) above), but $50 for a pretty wide range of pullers was the sweet spot for me.
- Thread starter
- #51
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Anyone come across a press kit that is cheapish and also works great for our trucks? I dont mind buying a kit for under 100 if it doesnt break after two presses and has the right adapters
That probably works for you suburbanites but not up here in the sticks. No store within an hours drive even has it. Only the 100$ kit could be shipped to me. Ill be buying a kit
FWIW, whichever kit you rent, doesn't have the right size tube to insert the new ball joint (the eternal fight SAE vs Metric)
I ended up buying a 2" nipple in Home Depot and that was the perfect size.
I ended up buying a 2" nipple in Home Depot and that was the perfect size.
- Thread starter
- #57
It was posted in a link above, but I think the gold standard for separating the lower ball joints is the OEMTOOL 27170. Right now I am looking at it with much affection! 
Pushes straight which is key. Has strap bolts that keep it from flying off and also centers it. You have to remove the disc and dust shield to get it on though.
The screw feels like it is made out of good stuff. Impact banged it and it was off.
The thing that amazed me was my ball joints were just married up to the knuckle and had less than 10 miles on them and were this hard to get BACK off.
This is a Free rental from Autozone or $69 on Amazon
Pushes straight which is key. Has strap bolts that keep it from flying off and also centers it. You have to remove the disc and dust shield to get it on though.
The screw feels like it is made out of good stuff. Impact banged it and it was off.
The thing that amazed me was my ball joints were just married up to the knuckle and had less than 10 miles on them and were this hard to get BACK off.
This is a Free rental from Autozone or $69 on Amazon
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mdcoa
SILVER Star
Huh, it displays on my page. Just paste this into Amazon: Orion Motor Tech 5pc Ball Joint Separator, Pitman Arm Puller, Tie Rod End Tool Set for Front End Service, Splitter Removal Kit.
I bought since our local parts stores had suspended their rental program because of COVID--normally I'm all about free, for infrequent use items. Once I developed the seal leak and had to re-do one side, was pretty glad I'd bought . . .
mdcoa
SILVER Star
Oh yeah, nice. That looks a lot like the Toyota Special Tool prescribed in the FSM. Which costs almost $300, IIRC, so I passed on it . . .It was posted in a link above, but I think the gold standard for separating the lower ball joints is the OEMTOOL 27170. Right now I am looking at it with much affection!
Pushes straight which is key. Has strap bolts that keep it from flying off and also centers it. You have to remove the disc and dust shield to get it on though.
The screw feels like it is made out of good stuff. Impact banged it and it was off.
The thing that amazed me was my ball joints were just married up to the knuckle and had less than 10 miles on them and were this hard to get BACK off.
- Thread starter
- #60
It's $69 on Amazon or a Free Rental from Autozone. I forgot to include that. I'll add it to the post.
