2006 dodge ram 2500. I will be replacing upper and lower ball joints tomorrow and don't have access to a press. Closest shop is 120 miles away.

I know it will be a pain in the butt but what is the best way to take out old ball joints and install new ones without press? I have some beefy c clamps and deep sockets I hope will work.

 

You can rent tools to assist in the removal. I don't think you will have much luck using what you have.

 

You have to have a ball joint remover….. its hard enough getting them out with the tool..Renting one is best or buy this one at harbor freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-60827.html
or buy a new lower contole arm with the ball joints already installed..

 

What they said above.
Having just recently done this with a C clamp style press, that was indeed hard enough to press them out.
As for putting them back in....here's a little tip. Put your new lower ball joints in the freezer overnight.
Before pressing them in, warm up the lower control arm with a torch and then fit the super cooled new ball joint. They almost fall in that way.
Al.

 

I've borrowed the kit from both Autozone and Advanced Auto in the past..Made removal easy on my 1500... 2500 I don't know.

 

Yeah that's another good point. Being a 2500 and more heavy duty than a 1500, there might be a significant difference in trying to press one out then in.
Al.

 

Some heat from my torch and a BFH to remove lower BJ's from my 1500. Had to rig up some fittings from scrap pipe to press back in.

 

After putting some pressure on ur rental balljoint tool-tap the side with a small sledge-it will move a bit then add more pressure and repeat--

 

Wow.. I signed in and wrote a book on how to. Hit submit and it went away and asked me to sign in AGAIN..

 

I used a AutoZone rent a tool ball joint press and found out it don't work so well on the bigger axle on the 2500 3500. had to make adapters to make it work.