Lower ball joint replacement
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 816
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From: Indianapolis, area
Lower ball joint replacement
I've seen several guys on here say it's pretty easy to change the lower ball joints. I'm starting to get lazy and trying to decide if I really want to change them myself or take it in to get it done.
What all needs to be taken off? 2005 4x4. I assume the following:
1. sway bar end links
2. tie rod end
3. remove spindle from upper control arm
4. axle end
5. rotor/ caliper
6. then press the old out and in with the new
7. put it all back together
Let me know if this sounds about right. Only suspension work I've done in this truck is the leveling kit a couple of years ago....so I'm kind of rusty on how much room there is to get the ball joints out.
Thanks
What all needs to be taken off? 2005 4x4. I assume the following:
1. sway bar end links
2. tie rod end
3. remove spindle from upper control arm
4. axle end
5. rotor/ caliper
6. then press the old out and in with the new
7. put it all back together
Let me know if this sounds about right. Only suspension work I've done in this truck is the leveling kit a couple of years ago....so I'm kind of rusty on how much room there is to get the ball joints out.
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,927
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From: Wichita KS
I pull the wheel and brakes first, tie the caliper up and out of the way then start getting stuff out of the way to get the ball joint tool in there. The hardest part by far is getting the sway bar end links to break free from the spindle. There is a tool to do this that looks like a big fork but I just whack the spindle with a heavy hammer and they pop right out now that I've done it a few times for various projects. I wouldn't say it's pretty easy but once you've done it a time or two you get pretty good at it.
One thing though if you don't have the proper big impact sockets and good air tools you're in for a challenge. I don't recall what the sizes are off hand but I think, 10mm, 15mm, 17mm, 18mm, and 32mm. Plus a big hammer and a can of PB Blaster. Just from a tool standpoint you might be best to take it to a shop. Although you can rent the special tools from some auto part stores.
One thing though if you don't have the proper big impact sockets and good air tools you're in for a challenge. I don't recall what the sizes are off hand but I think, 10mm, 15mm, 17mm, 18mm, and 32mm. Plus a big hammer and a can of PB Blaster. Just from a tool standpoint you might be best to take it to a shop. Although you can rent the special tools from some auto part stores.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Indianapolis, area
I have all of the tools except for the ball joint press I just don't have any air tools at my disposal at this time. I have an electric impact which should help a little.
So do you have pull the axle out of the spindle? I've seen a couple of posts at one time or another saying that the axle didn't have to removed but it appears to me that it will need to come off.
I'll probably end up doing it my self once I see the price a shop wants to charge. The older I get the less I want to do my own repair work unless it is real easy but I cannot stand paying the price to have someone else do it.
So do you have pull the axle out of the spindle? I've seen a couple of posts at one time or another saying that the axle didn't have to removed but it appears to me that it will need to come off.
I'll probably end up doing it my self once I see the price a shop wants to charge. The older I get the less I want to do my own repair work unless it is real easy but I cannot stand paying the price to have someone else do it.
