Carl'sMJ Posted May 12, 2009 Posted May 12, 2009 Well, I spent the day helping my Dad replace... or attempt to replace... the upper and lower ball joints on his '91 XJ 4WD. Everything went fairly smooth until we started trying to press the ball studs out of the axle yoke. Both the upper and lower must be rusted in something fierce because even the removal/installation tool we bought wouldn't even budge them. :headpop: Sound familiar to anyone. Anyone have any good tips for getting them out??? :help:
jeep_freek88 Posted May 12, 2009 Posted May 12, 2009 did you crush them yet?? Are you using a ball joint press?? PB Blaster works good at eating threw rust ...................
Carl'sMJ Posted May 12, 2009 Author Posted May 12, 2009 Yeah, we're using the press and have been rather liberal with the of PB Blaster. Not sure what you mean by "crush" them :???:
jeep_freek88 Posted May 12, 2009 Posted May 12, 2009 Lol .....Well when i did my ball joints i crushed one when I was putting it in.........when I did mine the old joints were rusted in pretty good, but the press i used poped them right out........if your using a rachet put a cheater bar on the end so you can turn it .......... i tried using an impact driver and it didn't work hade to man handle it ....... :cheers:
deziped Posted May 12, 2009 Posted May 12, 2009 While you have them under pressuer try tapping (whack) the yoke around the ball joint with a hammer, sometimes that will help them release any stress their under and start coming out. :dunno:
Carl'sMJ Posted May 12, 2009 Author Posted May 12, 2009 We tried a cheater bar, no luck.... I'll try rapping on the yoke with a hammer while it is under pressure. It may just be the press we have but the threaded end where the wrench attaches to is way up in the wheel well and tough to use a cheater bar on.... I couldn't use an impact on the upper if I wanted to. We tried alot of heat and alot of heat while under pressure... no luck there either.
jpdocdave Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 don't remember on jeeps, but many vehicles have snap rings holding the ball joints in place, nothing like that still there holding it?
1987Comanche Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Mine were a bear to get out too. My problem with the ball joint service kit was that it didn't fit squarely over the bottom of the yoke (lower ball joint). I cannibalized the 4WD service socket from my K-10 Suburban and cut the tabs off it so I had a nice, thick socket that fit the lower yoke perfectly. I cut the threaded part of the ball joint off (too long for my socket) and wrapped 2 wrenches on the press. If you pull the upper joints out first you can thread the ball joint press through the hole in the upper yoke. My uppers required a long cheater bar to get out. This was for the 2WD MJ but I'd imagine the 4WD is identical.
Carl'sMJ Posted May 13, 2009 Author Posted May 13, 2009 Mine were a bear to get out too. My problem with the ball joint service kit was that it didn't fit squarely over the bottom of the yoke (lower ball joint). I cannibalized the 4WD service socket from my K-10 Suburban and cut the tabs off it so I had a nice, thick socket that fit the lower yoke perfectly. I cut the threaded part of the ball joint off (too long for my socket) and wrapped 2 wrenches on the press. If you pull the upper joints out first you can thread the ball joint press through the hole in the upper yoke. My uppers required a long cheater bar to get out. This was for the 2WD MJ but I'd imagine the 4WD is identical. Same problem here with our kit! :mad: We saw the same thing and are trying to get the upper out first too. It's looking like some more heat, a cheater bar, and alot of muscle are going to be the ticket to success.
comanchedude Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 What he said, usually helps alot While you have them under pressuer try tapping (whack) the yoke around the ball joint with a hammer, sometimes that will help them release any stress their under and start coming out. :dunno:
Carl'sMJ Posted May 13, 2009 Author Posted May 13, 2009 What he said, usually helps alot While you have them under pressuer try tapping (whack) the yoke around the ball joint with a hammer, sometimes that will help them release any stress their under and start coming out. :dunno: We'll definitely give that a shot too. :yes:
1987Comanche Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 If you need the P/N of the 4WD tool I cut up let me know. Once I was able to actually center the press over the ball joint it came out.
FxRacing282 Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 using heat may work but its not good for the knuckle. are you sure you have the press pressing the ball joint the right way? double and triple check the snap ring is out 100%
Carl'sMJ Posted May 15, 2009 Author Posted May 15, 2009 Got 'em out today!!! :clapping: Whacking the yoke with a hammer while they were under pressure and some help from the cheater bar were the ticket to success. It took a bit of work but they finally came out. Thanks for the advice... now it's time to get the new ones in :roll:
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