How do you press out the lower balljoint?

[TDUB]

I'm attempting to press out the lower front ball joint and I've got everything apart but I can't get the ball joint press to fit correctly to press it out. I'm just wondering if there is any way to maneuver it or something I can do to get it out. The way the LSes control arm is shaped prevents getting the press in from directly above.

 

[Alexbougie]

you need to head the aluminium to press them

 

[FASTLLS]

I 'heard' you need a 'special tool'.. Idk the truth behind that or not

 

[Alexbougie]

when I got mine pressed the mecanic told me who he need to need to heat the knuckle to press them cause the first place I did he broke my knuckle when he tried to press them without heat.

 

[FASTLLS]

When we replace them, we hit the joint with heat then throw water to 'shock' it out

 

[pektel]

This is why, after doing one lower balljoint, I brought mine to the shop. Just bring in the whole knuckle and have them do it. Probably only charge like $25.

 

[FASTLLS]

Unless he lives in a place like me.. :shifty:

 

[ShortCircutLS]

i would take it to a local machine shop. or shock it like fast said .

 

[TDUB]

When we replace them, we hit the joint with heat then throw water to 'shock' it out

And then attempt to press it? Would it be easier if I take the whole arm out and put it on my bench?

 

[FASTLLS]

Yes.. I would make things easier..

 

[dNyce LS]

U didn't do that? I didn't know u could try getting the out with the knuckle still in

 

[Right on the Mark]

When we replace them, we hit the joint with heat then throw water to 'shock' it out

I'm going to WARN you right now about giving info that might KILL someone!! NEVER EVER heat a balljoint. A friend of mine almost died because of this. The balljoint exploded from heating it up. Tore thru him like butter. He has had many surguries and is alive. The balljoint housing builds up crazy pressure when heated and the balljoint ball and stud comes exploding out like a bullet if heated to much. Now I know you will come back with we don't heat it that much. How much is to much to risk life! Just a friendly warning you can take it or leave it.

 

[Right on the Mark]

Also when I did mine I rent the common Balljoint press at store and noticed it didn't have some spacers and tubes that make doing a LS easy. I had to machine up a couple things to do this and saved them in my "Bearing buddy set"

 

[ShortCircutLS]

yeah , if you dont know what your doing i suggest not heating it. guess i should of considered that .

 

[Right on the Mark]

I just googled it to see whats out there on this. One guy has youtube vid of one he heated and it shot across shop and whaled an antifreeze bottle. Other dude lost hearing in one ear from explosion. Other dodge guy got lucky and it didn't hit him. Just a friendly warning to my peeps.

 

[FASTLLS]

I'm going to WARN you right now about giving info that might KILL someone!!

Thanks for the info.. In MY experiences, nothing has ever happened.. Your right, we don't heat it that much.. Just enough to shock.. But I guess I won't be doing that anymore..

I rip them off and the other mechanic presses while I (pretty much) watch him.. He could possibly drill a hole to relieve the pressure? Also you heat the knuckle, not the joint itself.. You do not want to put much heat and distort the Aluminum.. And all of the heating is a last resort..

Like I said, if none of this is correct don't do it.. In my experiences, nothing has happened.. Doesn't mean it won't though..

 

[Right on the Mark]

Thanks for the info.. In MY experiences, nothing has ever happened.. Your right, we don't heat it that much.. Just enough to shock.. But I guess I won't be doing that anymore..

I rip them off and the other mechanic presses while I (pretty much) watch him.. He could possibly drill a hole to relieve the pressure? Also you heat the knuckle, not the joint itself.. You do not want to put much heat and distort the Aluminum.. And all of the heating is a last resort..

Like I said, if none of this is correct don't do it.. In my experiences, nothing has happened.. Doesn't mean it won't though..

Dude if I can help even one person not getting injured i'm cool with that.

 

[FASTLLS]

Totally agree.. The way you were describing it, you made it sound like I was saying put heat to the B-joint itself.. Which is not even the correct way to shock.. And the main rule of thumb, don't stand in the direction of anything your heating.. Always off to the side..

 

[Right on the Mark]

When we replace them, we hit the JOINT with heat then throw water to 'shock' it out

Dude we can go round and round on this. I knew you would be dancing skirting and deflecting. Thats OK. I just want other and you to see this can be dangerous. Just take it with a grain of salt and put it in your memory bank. I 'm not stating you want to kill peeps outright.

 

[manoli]

I took mine to a friends shop and he heated the control arm up slowly and than pressed them out....wasnt cheap

 

[Right on the Mark]

You might wanna give your friend a heads up.

 

[FASTLLS]

Dude we can go round and round on this. I knew you would be dancing skirting and deflecting. Thats OK. I just want other and you to see this can be dangerous. Just take it with a grain of salt and put it in your memory bank. I 'm not stating you want to kill peeps outright.

Will do.. I would NEVER want to give advise that would harm someone.. I agree that heating them isn't for the first timer and should be done with cation..

 

[manoli]

Will do.. I would NEVER want to give advise that would harm someone.. I agree that heating them isn't for the first timer and should be done with cation..

*caution...

 

[FASTLLS]

You better be saying wheels because if I see you, the spell checking police, say rims; I will be quick to police that! :lol:

 

[manoli]

Lmao!