Ball joint replacement experience
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Ball joint replacement experience
I replaced my ball joints as a Christmas present to my self and I thought I would share my lovely experience since everyone said how bad a job it was.
First i started with the passenger side. I excitedly tore apart everything until I was down to the knuckle and proceeded to press the top knuckle out. I will tell you it's not a difficult job if the tool was made well. The press I got from auto zone was a piece of junk and I spent most of my time dealing with it falling off or the cups flying everywhere or rolling under the jeep and having to chase it. But I was able to press the top one out no problem. I started on the bottom and this is where the crappy tool started to shine since I needed to wedge washers on the too, press a little and then loosen the tool and continue to add washers. The best thing I did is get the press loaded up as much as possible and then hit the top of the press with a sledge hard. This would break it free a little and I would continue to tighten.
Once I had them out, I started putting the new ones in. Bottom went in no problem, and then it came time for the grease. Basically 99% of the grease went on my garage floor and my hair and 1% went in through the needle grease valve. I hate grease. Top was sort of a problem cause it wouldn't go in straight, however some hits with the sledge straightened everything out and I got it seated down. Everything went back together. I had spent 4 hours and figured the other side was gonna go twice as fast.
I start on the driver side and find I have a whole new set of problems. This side is going to end up taking me 6 hours :(. The first new problem is the spring perch gets in the way of the clamp for the top. Second problem is when I drop my axle to try to get the clamp unstuck from being wedged under the spring perch, all the oil from my diff drains out on my garage floor. Which makes me real mad and results in me picking up the sledge and beating the clamp for several minutes.
Third and worse problem with the drivers side is after I get all the new ball joints installed and finish slipping all over my spilt diff fluid, I start to assemble everything back up and I put my wheel spacers on accidentally before my rotor was in place. Then I tighten the wheel spacer nice and tight against the wheel hub and stand back to admire my work. Then realize my mistake and proceed to simply remove the wheel spacer. Well it was permanently fused to my hub. So I spent the next 3 hours trying to remove it. This involved hundreds of hits from the sledge, pry bar, pounding pickle fork to separate it and pouring more of my diff fluid all over it.
So by the time I beat it off, the wheel spacer looked like a smashed up tin can that was hit by a train.
So now I'm waiting for a new wheel spacer but the jeep drives like a dream! Definitely glad I replaced the ball joints.
First i started with the passenger side. I excitedly tore apart everything until I was down to the knuckle and proceeded to press the top knuckle out. I will tell you it's not a difficult job if the tool was made well. The press I got from auto zone was a piece of junk and I spent most of my time dealing with it falling off or the cups flying everywhere or rolling under the jeep and having to chase it. But I was able to press the top one out no problem. I started on the bottom and this is where the crappy tool started to shine since I needed to wedge washers on the too, press a little and then loosen the tool and continue to add washers. The best thing I did is get the press loaded up as much as possible and then hit the top of the press with a sledge hard. This would break it free a little and I would continue to tighten.
Once I had them out, I started putting the new ones in. Bottom went in no problem, and then it came time for the grease. Basically 99% of the grease went on my garage floor and my hair and 1% went in through the needle grease valve. I hate grease. Top was sort of a problem cause it wouldn't go in straight, however some hits with the sledge straightened everything out and I got it seated down. Everything went back together. I had spent 4 hours and figured the other side was gonna go twice as fast.
I start on the driver side and find I have a whole new set of problems. This side is going to end up taking me 6 hours :(. The first new problem is the spring perch gets in the way of the clamp for the top. Second problem is when I drop my axle to try to get the clamp unstuck from being wedged under the spring perch, all the oil from my diff drains out on my garage floor. Which makes me real mad and results in me picking up the sledge and beating the clamp for several minutes.
Third and worse problem with the drivers side is after I get all the new ball joints installed and finish slipping all over my spilt diff fluid, I start to assemble everything back up and I put my wheel spacers on accidentally before my rotor was in place. Then I tighten the wheel spacer nice and tight against the wheel hub and stand back to admire my work. Then realize my mistake and proceed to simply remove the wheel spacer. Well it was permanently fused to my hub. So I spent the next 3 hours trying to remove it. This involved hundreds of hits from the sledge, pry bar, pounding pickle fork to separate it and pouring more of my diff fluid all over it.
So by the time I beat it off, the wheel spacer looked like a smashed up tin can that was hit by a train.
So now I'm waiting for a new wheel spacer but the jeep drives like a dream! Definitely glad I replaced the ball joints.
Last edited by Iblowstuffup; Dec 27, 2013 at 06:52 AM.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
I replaced my ball joints as a Christmas present to my self and I thought I would share my lovely experience since everyone said how bad a job it was.
First i started with the passenger side. I excitedly tore apart everything until I was down to the knuckle and proceeded to press the top knuckle out. I will tell you it's not a difficult job if the tool was made well. The press I got from auto zone was a piece of junk and I spent most of my time dealing with it falling off or the cups flying everywhere or rolling under the jeep and having to chase it. But I was able to press the top one out no problem. I started on the bottom and this is where the crappy tool started to shine since I needed to wedge washers on the too, press a little and then loosen the tool and continue to add washers. The best thing I did is get the press loaded up as much as possible and then hit the top of the press with a sledge hard. This would break it free a little and I would continue to tighten.
Once I had them out, I started putting the new ones in. Bottom went in no problem, and then it came time for the grease. Basically 99% of the grease went on my garage floor and my hair and 1% went in through the needle grease valve. I hate grease. Top was sort of a problem cause it wouldn't go in straight, however some hits with the sledge straightened everything out and I got it seated down. Everything went back together. I had spent 4 hours and figured the other side was gonna go twice as fast.
I start on the driver side and find I have a whole new set of problems. This side is going to end up taking me 6 hours :(. The first new problem is the spring perch gets in the way of the clamp for the top. Second problem is when I drop my axle to try to get the clamp unstuck from being wedged under the spring perch, all the oil from my diff drains out on my garage floor. Which makes me real mad and results in me picking up the sledge and beating the clamp for several minutes.
Third and worse problem with the drivers side is after I get all the new ball joints installed and finish slipping all over my spilt diff fluid, I start to assemble everything back up and I put my wheel spacers on accidentally before my rotor was in place. Then I tighten the wheel spacer nice and tight against the wheel hub and stand back to admire my work. Then realize my mistake and proceed to simply remove the wheel spacer. Well it was permanently fused to my hub. So I spent the next 3 hours trying to remove it. This involved hundreds of hits from the sledge, pry bar, pounding pickle fork to separate it and pouring more of my diff fluid all over it.
So by the time I beat it off, the wheel spacer looked like a smashed up tin can that was hit by a train.
So now I'm waiting for a new wheel spacer but the jeep drives like a dream! Definitely glad I replaced the ball joints.
First i started with the passenger side. I excitedly tore apart everything until I was down to the knuckle and proceeded to press the top knuckle out. I will tell you it's not a difficult job if the tool was made well. The press I got from auto zone was a piece of junk and I spent most of my time dealing with it falling off or the cups flying everywhere or rolling under the jeep and having to chase it. But I was able to press the top one out no problem. I started on the bottom and this is where the crappy tool started to shine since I needed to wedge washers on the too, press a little and then loosen the tool and continue to add washers. The best thing I did is get the press loaded up as much as possible and then hit the top of the press with a sledge hard. This would break it free a little and I would continue to tighten.
Once I had them out, I started putting the new ones in. Bottom went in no problem, and then it came time for the grease. Basically 99% of the grease went on my garage floor and my hair and 1% went in through the needle grease valve. I hate grease. Top was sort of a problem cause it wouldn't go in straight, however some hits with the sledge straightened everything out and I got it seated down. Everything went back together. I had spent 4 hours and figured the other side was gonna go twice as fast.
I start on the driver side and find I have a whole new set of problems. This side is going to end up taking me 6 hours :(. The first new problem is the spring perch gets in the way of the clamp for the top. Second problem is when I drop my axle to try to get the clamp unstuck from being wedged under the spring perch, all the oil from my diff drains out on my garage floor. Which makes me real mad and results in me picking up the sledge and beating the clamp for several minutes.
Third and worse problem with the drivers side is after I get all the new ball joints installed and finish slipping all over my spilt diff fluid, I start to assemble everything back up and I put my wheel spacers on accidentally before my rotor was in place. Then I tighten the wheel spacer nice and tight against the wheel hub and stand back to admire my work. Then realize my mistake and proceed to simply remove the wheel spacer. Well it was permanently fused to my hub. So I spent the next 3 hours trying to remove it. This involved hundreds of hits from the sledge, pry bar, pounding pickle fork to separate it and pouring more of my diff fluid all over it.
So by the time I beat it off, the wheel spacer looked like a smashed up tin can that was hit by a train.
So now I'm waiting for a new wheel spacer but the jeep drives like a dream! Definitely glad I replaced the ball joints.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: The Praires
Really sorry to hear about your struggle. I read about this quite a bit. Makes me want to go out and purchase a quality press kit and adapter set, but I really wonder if it is all worth the expense and frustration. Or if I should simply take it to a shop for the ball joint replacement. I'm not as young as I used to be, and my patience level is at an all time low of late!
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Really sorry to hear about your struggle. I read about this quite a bit. Makes me want to go out and purchase a quality press kit and adapter set, but I really wonder if it is all worth the expense and frustration. Or if I should simply take it to a shop for the ball joint replacement. I'm not as young as I used to be, and my patience level is at an all time low of late!
When I called a shop, they quoted me something like 900 bucks for the job. I sort of see why, but I think it's mainly cause nobody wants to do it.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
A 1/2" drive impact wrench will give you the strength of those young whipper-snappers. Just make sure you're pushing the BJ the right direction (it is embarrassing to admit I even know this)!
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: NB, TX
Thank God I'm not alone... Took 6 hours to do the passenger side and said frack this I am not doing the driver side today.
The instructions weren't accurate. Nobody this side of the Mississippi had a 35mm socket. Didn't have a pickle fork so beat the shiz out of my knuckle just to brake loose. The kit was missing the grease needle. Only had one tube of grease but somehow 55 gallons of it ended up everywhere.
I guess the lesson to learn from all this is... get a bigger hammer
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
Thank God I'm not alone... Took 6 hours to do the passenger side and said frack this I am not doing the driver side today.
The instructions weren't accurate. Nobody this side of the Mississippi had a 35mm socket. Didn't have a pickle fork so beat the shiz out of my knuckle just to brake loose. The kit was missing the grease needle. Only had one tube of grease but somehow 55 gallons of it ended up everywhere.
I guess the lesson to learn from all this is... get a bigger hammer
Scroll down near the bottom and read the captions for each photos, which provide useful (I hope) info. If you do this on a phone or tablet with the FB app, then you can just scroll up the album as a step-by-step guide as you do the task ...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=493982bd8c
Edit: Oh, and I understand this is an old thread. I post this for someone in the future looking for advice on doing the install.