Good luck with getting it out. Hopefully you can get the new ball joint to seat in the spindle and tighten up.

 

Still hoping for input on how to get myself out of this. The ball joint shaft turns with the nut. What can I do to remedy the situation?

 

That happened on my truck too. I believe I used a 4 1/2" electric cut off wheel to cut the nut off. It was not hard to do and saved a lot of work and frustration. I got the tool and cut off discs at Harbor Freight. The tool was about $15.00 and the discs cost about $8.00 for a pack of 4 or 5. Now I do remember buying the cut off tool and a few other tools on a Friday night before tackling the ball joints that Saturday. Good luck with it.

Jimmy

 

Did you have it entirely off the truck, or did you remove the brake line? it is pretty close to that nut. Maybe I will remove the caliper.

 

Stupid question: now that I've grind off the nut, how do I press it out? Seems I'd need a gear puller that could fit above the CV joint to press it out.

 

When I removed mine I just used a pickle fork and a BFH to loosen the ball joint out of the hole. Then tapped it out from underneath with a smaller hammer. I broke one of my pickle forks in the process but got both ball joints out. I believe there is also a ball joint separator tool that you use with a wrench to crank stubborn ball joints out. When I removed my old bad ball joints I decided it was not that important to remove the old ball joint without damaging it so I just wailed on it with the pickle fork and BFH. It did not take much effort to get it loose.

Jimmy

 

Hey Robbadodge..

I made up a post with pics when I did my ball joints. My truck is a 2 wheel drive but maybe the thread with its pics and replies might help you:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...to-w-pics.html

With yours being a 4 wheel drive you may need the ball joint press tool. I am not familiar with the grinding the lip of the ball joint process but hopefully others can chime in and help you out on this.

Good luck.

Jimmy

 

that labor rate is outragous!!! i had both sides of my uppers and lowers done in about 90 mins. on my 03 4x4...... but air tools and a lift help alot........ i pressed the lower out with a balljoint remover tool and a half inch impact...... didn't grind no lip off, (but if i remember right there is a snap ring on the lowers) did the opposite to put them back in....... still kind of a pita to change them......... i remember helping my dad when i was younger doing the hammer dealer, in a dirt driveway under the summer sun......... no fun either way...... let us know how you made out!!!

 

as far as the cv joint you have to pop the tie rod, both upper and lower ball joints and take the steering knuckle off the cv shaft after you take the 1"1/4 nut off the shaft. it takes a little wiggling but it will come off, and i suggest popping the cv shaft out of the truck to give you a little more room to work..... my dad has an 03 4x4 and i left the shaft in ended up missing with a hammer and broke one the clamps that hold the boot, and tore the boot to......... just dont forget to put the shaft back in before the knuckle, or you will be doing it again.

 

Robbadodge, the pickle fork should be able to separate the ball joint. You can get them in different sizes.

Rebel, '03 may be different but earlier years do have a lip on the ball joint OEM and no snap ring - unless it has already been changed.