Ball joint disassembly and install

[conoco]

Any guidance for those of you that have changed these before. I just got my new parts in. I bought a press because I needed one anyway. I will take the steering arm back off obviously which suck. My manual says the pickle fork is used to take them off and then the press to put them back on. I was just looking for guidance as this is my first time for this particular job. I have new hubs, brake dust shield, calipers and all the hardware that goes with eacho those. I am looking at sand blasting that part of the axle once the ball joints are out so I can por-15 paint them. I am just not familiar with the disassembly and install for these. Any help would be great.

[57taskforce]

All you’ll have to do is take nuts off the ball joints then usually a couple smacks with a bfh and it should separate and you can lift the knuckle off. If your replacing the ball joints than use the pickle fork to break it loose. If your removing the steering arm you’ll want to Pull the nuts off and spray the studs down with penetrating oil, depending how rusty it all is you may have to spray it over a few days. There’s Tapered conical bushings that hold the arm on the studs. They can be a real pain to get loosened up from the studs. I usually just start with a chisel on one end and then move to the other end. Keep working it back and forth till it comes out. You use the press to remove and install the joints. Sometimes you have to smack the stud of the joint a few times to get them moving before the press will push them out. Make sure there’s no Snap rings holding the joints in the knuckle before you start pressing them out. Make sure you get the joints centered and straight when you press them back in. I usually put a little anti seize on the joints when they go back in.

[conoco]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

All you’ll have to do is take nuts off the ball joints then usually a couple smacks with a bfh and it should separate and you can lift the knuckle off. If your replacing the ball joints than use the pickle fork to break it loose. If your removing the steering arm you’ll want to Pull the nuts off and spray the studs down with penetrating oil, depending how rusty it all is you may have to spray it over a few days. There’s Tapered conical bushings that hold the arm on the studs. They can be a real pain to get loosened up from the studs. I usually just start with a chisel on one end and then move to the other end. Keep working it back and forth till it comes out. You use the press to remove and install the joints. Sometimes you have to smack the stud of the joint a few times to get them moving before the press will push them out. Make sure there’s no Snap rings holding the joints in the knuckle before you start pressing them out. Make sure you get the joints centered and straight when you press them back in. I usually put a little anti seize on the joints when they go back in.

Thank you for your help! I ask a lot of questions and I really appreciate all th help from you guys on this board. I try to look things up first before I ask but sometimes I can’t find what I need, or there is an easier way of doing things from all the knowledge from everyone on this board. I do appreciate you taking the time to answer. I have a lot of time on my hands lately lol. Thanks again and stay safe.