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Post by tstaples on Dec 18, 2006 13:37:40 GMT -3
so the state inspection guy told me today that all 4 of my ball joints are bad and need to be replaced. not news you want to hear.... F
So i was just wondering if anyone out there has ever done their upper and lower ball joints before. and could tell me how much of a job it is and if there's anything to look out for .
also, if anyone has a real good place to buy ball joints online where they're inexpensive and good quality (yea.. kind of an oxymoron) then please let me know.
thanks all
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Post by mikeswrangler on Dec 18, 2006 13:45:30 GMT -3
just pull your wheels, brakes, hubs, axleshafts, and knuckles off and rent a balljoint press from autozone, or advanced and then press the old ones out and the new ones in. Not a bad job at all. Will take you longer to figure out the ball joint press seeing its your first time.
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Post by tstaples on Dec 18, 2006 13:54:29 GMT -3
i'm getting the feel that it's not a super hard job. Wish there was a website with instructions and diagrams. I'm not too familiar with removing the hubs, axleshafts and knuckles
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Post by axle on Dec 18, 2006 14:14:22 GMT -3
is the cj all set?
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Post by Twisty on Dec 18, 2006 14:20:16 GMT -3
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Post by tstaples on Dec 18, 2006 14:55:47 GMT -3
cj is a work in progress... i need a new electric choke thermostat. 30-50 bucks. gotta order one cause no where carries one. So when i have the money i'll buy that.
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Post by ayoung on Dec 18, 2006 14:57:37 GMT -3
ummm ball joints can be a huge PITA, if everything goes allright it wont be too bad, but if the old ball joints are in there good it can be a really big pain. this is definetly an entire afternoon project
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Post by jps4jeep on Dec 18, 2006 19:05:46 GMT -3
I 101% agree with Adam, if they are the original ball joints, or have been in there for anything over 4 years, could be a definate PITA, and not just because the ball joints will be a biotch to get out, but also, the hub nut might fight ya, the three 12 points on teh back will fight ya. the only time I have had ball jointws come out easy was when they were rivoted in not pressed, but I don't even think a SFA would have rivoted ball joints.
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Post by XfaCtoR on Dec 18, 2006 20:31:37 GMT -3
ill do it for you for a small fee
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Post by mikeswrangler on Dec 18, 2006 20:44:46 GMT -3
Ill help you do it for free I have nothing else to do these days. But you gotta come here, I havent all the tools and air.
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Post by tstaples on Dec 18, 2006 22:31:08 GMT -3
mikes,
where you located? i might take ya up on that.. anything would be better than doing it in the dirt and cold. i take it you meant "have" instead of "havent"?
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Post by mikeswrangler on Dec 19, 2006 0:24:25 GMT -3
Hah yes I meant I have. I dont have a shop, it would be a driveway install but its still better than dirt. Located in Norwell,MA 25min south of boston.
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Post by tstaples on Dec 19, 2006 9:26:36 GMT -3
thanks mike!
I was looking at it this morning and it looks like there is just a gap between the boot on the ball joint and the housing. it seems to me (i probably am wrong) that pulling that cotter pin on the ball joint and tightening that nut might pull it together.
does anyone know if those nuts can losen? or are they set at a certain position.
sure would be nice if i could just tighten up those nuts and be done with it.
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Post by ayoung on Dec 19, 2006 10:03:28 GMT -3
you can try, it probably will not help anything
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Post by mikeswrangler on Dec 19, 2006 10:06:44 GMT -3
I have done that with tie rods ends but never ball joints, so I dont know.
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