I’m replacing my lower ball joints on my 94 4runner. After I jack it up and remove the wheel, do I first remove the nut on the bottom (after removing the cotter pin) or the four bolts on the top? Also when I use a pickle fork to separate it from the lower control arm do I need to jack the rest (upper control arm ect…) back up? What about the shock, does it have enough movement to stay bolted together? Thanks, this will be my first ball joint replacement!

A.

 

Maybe this will help

 

hmmm, I had done a write-up on bc4x4 a while back, but the search doesn't go back far.

Previously, I had done basically the steps listed in Gregg's link, 'cept I've never disconnected the tie rods. Remove the bottom nut, loosen (but don't completely remove yet) the top ones, use a puller. However, the amount of material for the puller to grab onto is a minimal; perhaps that's only when using a universal puller. One of the comments from bc4x4 was removing the bottom nut and hammering on the lower control arm to break lose the joint. I think that's how it went, been a while - too much time infront of the computer and not enough in the garage.

Disconnecting the shock at the lower mount is easy.

Where about's in vanc are you? Would be interesting to check out how the the 7M-GTE swap looks.

ed

 

Thanks! That AutoZone is great!
Ed, I'm in East Van, you?

A.

 

I'm variously in Kits though work out in Surrey. Sent ya an email.

ed