OK, I dug into the tie rods, front brakes, and ball-joints today and had a few issues. #1) I couldn't pull the old inner bearings out of the old rotors, making me think a race was installed. I only wanted to remove them for posterity's sake. On the new passenger rotor, I tried to install the new race over the bearings and it wouldn't go all the way down. It makes me think I didn't need to install the race. The wheel does not spin as free as it did before. Yes, I have new pads, but I doubt it is because of that. #2) I rented a ball-joint press and cannot[:@] get the driver's side lower ball-joint pressed into place. I have the four round adapters and the two end pieces, but two adapters and end pieces are to much for the press. If I try to press them in place with the adapter protecting the top of the ball-joint, it starts to go in crooked. I'm screwed at this point, as I need to get that other spindle back into place since the truck is halfway in the garage. I can't close the door.

If anyone has pics from changing his spindle, or advice on how I can accomplish this, I would appreciate it. And no, the tool did not come with any type of instructions.

Oh yeah, the tie rods and driver's side ball-joints were extremely floppy. I can only imagine how bad the passenger side is.

 

*BUMP*

 

dont know what to say, but as far as the press goes, try doing it a mm at a time, and rotating it 180 and keep doing it so it doesnt go in crooked. thats my best guess. gl

 

Hey,

I just replaced the driver side ball joints upper and lower. I got a bearing press from Harbor Freight. I got it to work, and it works fine. It comes with two ram caps, spacer cups and the ram.

After removing the Spindle, remove the keeper circlip.Put cup bigger than the ball joint on thebottom of the lower control arm, the ram cap thatis opposite ofthe screw on the ram (this is the one that the BJ thread sticks through). Put the cap on the lower balljoint top(the ram will press agains this cap). The ram will be facing so that the screw is up. Put it over the spacer cup,and both caps.When you start turning the screw, it will "pop" the BJ down.

To install, just put the spacer cup on thetop side of the control arm, and turn the screw. It will slide the new BJ up. Install the new keeper circlip.

It kinda works the same way with the upper BJ.

Sorry I didn't take any pics of theram on the BJ. When I do the other side, in about a month, I will take pics of the ram.

Good luck.

greg

 

OK, I got it sorted out today. The cups weren't working out right and were too high for the clamp to fit into place for the lowers. Talked to my neighbor, who is a bad-*** machinist/handyman, and he made a cup ½ the height of the ones that come in the ball-joint press kit. Got the lowers installed with no problems after that Tomorrow, she goes in for an alignment and to have the tire shop install the Pitman Arm. My torque wrench doesn't go to 185ft/lbs, which is the specs the FSM gives for the nut to steering box.