2Whlin

trying to remove upper ball joint so I can add a Daystar lift kit and used every tool in the garage to no avail. The ball joint boot is shredded now that we used every pickle fork we had and lubed and pried and beat it into submission but dam thing won't budge. Tried every angle and option so now I have to take it to a shop because I give up!!! Anyone else have this happen??

toyota4x4907

Upper ball-joints are press-fit. You need a press. And there is also a snap ring

turbo8

Are you trying to separate the ball joint from the upper arm? Use a ball joint puller or pitman arm puller, pretty sure the pitman arm puller works from autozone.

If you're just trying to gain some droop to stick the longer shock in there, use the stock bottle jack to "flex" the arms down. Put the bottle jack on top of the upper ball joint nut and wedge it between the inner fender and jack it up, it should droop the suspension down some so you can bolt the shock in.

Texas_Ace

Ditto, used a combo of the puller/pitman arm and after getting the technique down they popped out without too much trouble.

2Whlin

Trying to seperate the joint at the upper a-arm. 'll have to look into the puller tool.

2Whlin

I'll try the bottle jack trick on the other side, but still going to have to remove that one ball joint as I screwed up the boot using the pickle fork tool!!! Can I just put some grease in there and put a new boot on and be done with it??

leid

OP,
Look at the Harbor Freight front end/ball joint tools & set-up I used to remove/install 1997 Tacoma 4WD pressed-in UBJs: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/g...joints-268729/ You can rent the necessary tools at Advanced Auto, etc. or buy them at Harbor Freight, etc. It's easy but only with tools designed to do this job.

HTH & Good luck

2Whlin

cool, I need to find that puller as a buddy brought over a pitman puller and it won't work. Won't fit over the upper a-arm.