What size socket do I need for the upper ball joint on a 01 3500 van? thanks

 

It is a special socket. When I changed mine I went to my local Bear Alignment shop and asked them to borrow their socket for an hour. I left them $50 as a deposit and when I brought the socket back I left them $20 as a thank you. Well worth it for the money I saved in labor by changing the parts myself.

Even with the correct special socket and a 1/2" drive breaker you'll need some leverage to get the uppers out. I remember using a six-foot pipe (no joke) on the end of my breaker bar to get mine loose. Make sure your van is properly supported before cranking on the pipe. Definitely use Never-Seez on the new uppers before you put them in.

You'll be doing yourself or the next owner a big favor when they need changing again.

 

Advanced Auto has a rental kit with the socket in it, that's where I got one when I needed one. You pay for the kit and get all your money back when you return it.

 

yeah i'm sure after 8 years they're in there good. I forgot about the rental. I got the torch ready, wish I took a measurment now thanks

 

I actually never did get mine to turn out. I ended up using the ball joint press tool and pressing them out. The threads on the ball joint stripped off when I did it. I cleaned the threads in the control arm and screwed the new ones it. The socket did come in handy for that procedure. If I ever have to do it again I think I'll just get new upper control arms.

 

The torch will make a ton of acrid smoke from the grease and rubber boot as they burn from the heat. If you use leverage as I suggested along with a breaker and the proper socket they will turn out. Mine were 10+ old years when I changed them.

 

that's a good point I'll try to get the rubber and grease off of there if I have to use the hot wrench thanks