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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 | Hi Everyone,
I finally bit the bullet and started replacing my c20 ball joints today. The usual cussin and swearin but the job was going good. Ground the rivets off the top ball joints, hit them with a punch and got them out. The problem lies in the bottom press in ball joints. Now that my spindle is flopping around like a limp you know what, how do I get the old bottom ball joints out? On the uppers there was a place for the pickle fork, on the lowers the spot for the pickle fork is up inside the spindle, since my truck has those two piece spindles. I would pound the top of the ball joint with a sledge but the spindle is in the way. Any suggestions would be greatly apprecitated!!!
Thank You
Last edited by TomSawyer; 02/27/2012 3:12 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 51 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 51 | | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | You should still be able to get a pickle fork in there. If not, try rapping the spindle on the side of the balljoint boss. Do not pound on the balljoint stud. The taper will not break that way, and there's a very good chance you'll mushroom the the stud. Once the spindle is popped out, you'll need a balljoint press. As mentioned by Dado, you can rent one from the parts store. You can also gat one relatively cheap at Harbor Freight.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 | thanks guys. this weekend I will give it a go. think I am going to put my new upper ball joint in, then use the pressure from the spring to help with removal of the lower. Also going to pick up the ball joint press.
thanks again... | | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 | Ball joint press kit...for removing and installing. Loaner kits available from your FLAPS. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 | Loosen the nut on the lower ball joint 3 or 4 turns, but don't remove it. Then turn the spindle around so you can smack the boss where the ball joint shank goes through it and hit it HARD with a 3-pound BFH. The shock will make the taper pop loose, and the nut keeps things from flying in all directions. Once the taper is loose, remove the nut and take it all apart.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 698 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 698 |
My Fleet: 19411953195919651966 1953 Willy's Pickup John Vegetarian- old Indian word for bad hunter
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 | Thanks John!
Went by my local auto parts store and rented a ball joint press this evening (friday). It was a 100 bucks but you get a full refund when you return it. Where I live we are supposed to have great weather this weekend so I am going to jump on the ball joints first thing in the morning. Excited that I actually have the right tool for the job. Thanks again.
Doug J | | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 | darn! now i have another problem. i was able to get both my upper and lower ball joints out, pressed in the new lower, bolted in the new upper. i was cruising along...until. the upper is completely installed, but now when trying to put the castle nut on the bottom, the ball joint will not fit all the way through the spindle. it almost makes it through the spindle but you can tell the angle is wrong. this is so hard to explain on the computer. i am almost thinking i might have to install the lower first and then the upper? i really don't want to pound out my brand new upper ball joint!!! any suggestions???
thanks | | | | | | OLTrucks Unregistered | | OLTrucks Unregistered | I have had the best luck as you did by installing the spindle on the upper then lowering the truck down with a jack stand under the lower arm and carefully lining up the lower as the truck and the spindle come in to position.
Mike | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 698 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 698 | Tighten the spring compressor more. Then jack up the lower arm with a jack.
My Fleet: 19411953195919651966 1953 Willy's Pickup John Vegetarian- old Indian word for bad hunter
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 57 | thanks man, that is exactly what i thought of, but didn't want to go back to the store to rent yet another tool. i had already rented two different pickle forks and a ball joint press. I ended up just pulling the hub, then the two bolts that hold the backing plate/dust cover to the two piece spindle. I didn't even have to take them all the way out, just about a half inch of play was enough and i was back in business. the first side took me about a day, the second side took me about 3 hours. lesson learned. i have to say, one of the hardest jobs i have done to date, 3/4 ton ball joints in the driveway! ouch. glad its over... | | |
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