im doing ball joints on a 95 ram 1500...does anyone have any insight or tips or anything to help me out? this would be my first time doing it so i dont really know what im getting myself into...thanks for any help

 

Here's the write-up: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/balljoint.php

You can usually rent a press from the local Checker/Auto-zone/Advanced Auto/etc. You don't HAVE to use one, but it makes it easier.

 

Pay attention when pushing the joints out. The top one pushes out from the bottom and the bottom ball joint pushes out from the top, this is in the pavementsucks writeup but i made the mistake of trying to push the bottom one up through the ear instead of out of the bottom.

 

You Didn't say if it was 4 wheel peel or not. If it is 4x4 the spindle nut is a big one, 1 3/4" socket will fit, I tried a two foot braker bar and broke the bar. The best way for it to come off is impact wrench. As for the ball joints you can beat them out with a five pound hamer but the press is the best way to go. AutoZone loans them for $99.99 but the cool thing is that you get that back when you bring the press back. The joints themselves are about $37 a piece, don't be cheep here, do both top and bottom and do both sides, if you don't you'll be bying tires for it shortly. Good Luck.

 

The spindle/hub nut is 1 11/16"

 

Are loaner tools really that expensive? I know you get it back, but thats still a lot to lay down.

 

depends on the tool. dont forget, they need to cover their *** if you never bring it back. i used autozones spring compressor, layed out $50, kept the tool for as long as i wanted to, and then i got my money back with no problems. seems like a good deal to me

 

DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE 2 SIZES MINE IS 1 3/4" THANKS FOR THE INFO

 

Depends on what it is. I've used this ball joint press and I thought $100 was a lot to. i know you can get an OBDII scaner for the same price but stuff like odd metric sockets, pickle forks etc. are like $10. For those of us who use them all the time we would just by one. For those that only plan on using it once it's not a bad deal at least at AutoZone they give you the full amount back even if you brake it.

 

Ok sorry all but I have a stupid question on this. How can I tell if I need to replace the ball joints?