Ball joint press effort

[Hackyman]

Replacing the ball joints on the front of my LJR. Most of the ball joints required a very large amount of force to press in. The passenger side upper required a press, but was much easier than the others. Using an 18" breaker bar i could press it in relatively easily and didn't feel like I was going to blow out my back like the others.

At what point should the inner C be considered too loose and I should knurl the ball joint?

The jeep came with an offset ball joint that was knurled so it is likely slightly enlarged. The new joint certainly wouldn't go in without a press.

Using Spicer parts.

Thanks!

 

[macleanflood]

I like to put a good hard wack or two on the side of the ball joint socket as I'm pressing them in.

I just did my lowers...they went in pretty hard.

-Mac

 

[Hackyman]

I like to put a good hard wack or two on the side of the ball joint socket as I'm pressing them in.

I just did my lowers...they went in pretty hard.

-Mac

Anything relevant to my situation?

 

[hear]

I just did my lowers...they went in pretty hard.

But how did they come out?

wranglertjforum after dark

 

[lBasket]

I didn't think you could just go back to non-knurled once knurled ones were used. But I could be wrong

 

[hear]

I didn't think you could just go back to non-knurled once knurled ones were used. But I could be wrong

You can dimple non-knurled ones. I think the real test is just how hard do they go in. If it's easy, then I guess the risk is they can come out easily too.

 

[macleanflood]

But how did they come out?

wranglertjforum after dark

Lots of ugga duggas on my big impact wrench...which I probably shouldn't use but my wrists are shot.

-Mac

 

[hear]

Lots of ugga duggas on my big impact wrench...which I probably shouldn't use but my wrists are shot.

-Mac

i can never even come close to getting an impact on it, but I guess you're on a lift, right? I guess if I jacked up the frame instead of the axles I could get more droop...

 

[macleanflood]

i can never even come close to getting an impact on it, but I guess you're on a lift, right? I guess if I jacked up the frame instead of the axles I could get more droop...

Axle out of the Jeep first time and lift recently...that lift is a game changer! Stop buying more Jeeps and get one.

I wonder if the impact contributed to the first one only lasting 3 years...or maybe that was Browns Camp, Rubicon and Moab and a few more and some in between.

Both Spicers.

-Mac

 

[hear]

Axle out of the Jeep first time and lift recently...that lift is a game changer! Stop buying more Jeeps and get one.

I would love a lift. They're not that expensive, but it's not really viable in my house garage. I couldn't have the garage door up with the vehicle also up, and it would make fitting 2 cars in there just about impossible (which it probably already is). Living in suburbia precludes having a proper shop like what you have. And you have to go WAY out into the boonies to find anything "affordable" in the way of land in NTX, so that dream is likely to remain just that.

 

[sierradmax]

If you think TJ ball joints are hard to press in, try a set of ball joints, especially the lowers on a set of control arms to a 2500/3500!

 

[NskLJ]

i can never even come close to getting an impact on it, but I guess you're on a lift, right? I guess if I jacked up the frame instead of the axles I could get more droop...

Jack up the frame and let the axle droop for the upper then Jack up the axle for the lower. I put tension on the ball joint with the press then hit it with a hammer to shock it, helps remove stubborn joints. Same on the way in help line everything up.

 

[Weasellee]

but my wrists are shot

Curious, is it carpel tunnel? Just had both my wrists done non-evasive procedure, back to work in a couple days and regaining strength rapidly.

 

[macleanflood]

Curious, is it carpel tunnel? Just had both my wrists done non-evasive procedure, back to work in a couple days and regaining strength rapidly.

Dunno. Haven't bothered with a doctor. Probably should.

-Mac

 

[Rickyd]

I didn't think you could just go back to non-knurled once knurled ones were used. But I could be wrong

Ask next time?

 

[Weasellee]

Dunno. Haven't bothered with a doctor. Probably should.

-Mac

I got to the point where i couldn’t sleep through the night without waking up with hand pain. Finally went and had severe carpel in both hands. The standard surgery is weeks if not months of healing per hand. I went to a guy in Boston, paid cash and got both hands fixed up. Best $5k I’ve spent in years.
This also explains why you haven’t seen a lot of progress with my LJ build