Does anyone have a good writeup on replacing upper and lower ball joints?

Any tips or anything would be sweet. And all the tools I will need and whatnot.

Thanks

 

I use a puller from harbor freight. I think it is labeled 'pitman arm puller' but it fits the lower bj's perfectly. It's a hell of a lot easier than using a pickel fork. I think I paid less than $5 for it.

 

This is the thing I'm talking about. It works like a charm.

 

I already got a pickle fork so i'll just use taht and like a 3lb sledge.

But you dont need a press or anything right? I saw one guy talking about needing a press for a dodge 2wd.

How long will it take to do all 4 and is there anything i should do while i got all this stuff off?

Thanks

 

I've never messed with the uppers. But you definitely don't need a press for the lowers. While you are down there, you should check out all of your tie rod ends and idler arm for play. And make sure you get an alignment when you're done.

 

You can rent the tool from Autozone for next to nothing. The one they rent looks like a big C clamp and works great. Bryan

 

This is on my 2WD but 4wd won't be any harder. Pretty much covers all your Q'd and more.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/ok-just-did-ball-joints-outer-tie-rods-2nd-gen-73458/

 

leave the nuts on but at the very end as this will keep the BJs from flying out when you use the clamp ( i had one of my lowers fly out and hit the ceiling) for the tops just take a sledge and pound the side of the knuckle right where the bj goes in, after a few good wacks it'll fall right off then just undo the nuts pull them out clean up the holes and put in the new ones.
After you put the new ones in torque em down then line up the hole with the castle and put in the cotter pin, be sure to bend both lets in diff directions. Put the pin in with the split going vertically then wrap each leg around their sides of the nut ( I hope thats understandable). Good luck!

 

I used a heavy wheel puller on my uppers. Worked great. I don't recommend a pickle fork if you have another option. The pickle fork tend to scar up the knuckles. A good puller will pop 'em without a scratch.