Ball Joint replacement help.

[femurphy77]

I'm in the process of replacing the ball joints on my '00 SDD 4wd. The problem is the ball joints won't release from the knuckle assembly. I've got the ball joint press in place and am turning it in with my air impact but it only goes so far and then stallls. The bj's don't appear to be budging at all. I sprayed them down with PB Blaster last week but I am at the point of no going back and can't move forward. Is it safe to apply limited heat to the knuckles to assist in removal? Any input is appreciated. And I am trying to drive them inward.

 

[femurphy77]

I'm in the process of replacing the ball joints on my '00 SDD 4wd. The problem is the ball joints won't release from the knuckle assembly. I've got the ball joint press in place and am turning it in with my air impact but it only goes so far and then stallls. The bj's don't appear to be budging at all. I sprayed them down with PB Blaster last week but I am at the point of no going back and can't move forward. Is it safe to apply limited heat to the knuckles to assist in removal? Any input is appreciated. And I am trying to drive them inward.

DUH!!! I figured it out, drive them OUT not IN

 

[IHC Power]

Ball joints

When the knuckle is off the truck you need to press the lower b.j down and out first then use the tool on the upper to push it out also, you need to remove the lower in order to get the upper out, make sure you also replace all the o-rings and seals while your in there or your asking for problems down the road. That includes the four wheel drive large vacuum seal, hub o-ring should be yellow, and the hub o-ring which is black. Good luck.

 

[JLDickmon]

 

[femurphy77]

O.k. after pulling my head out I figured it out, one pushes out, one pushes in. Didn't take long after I figured the right way to do it. The narrative I followed didn't make mention of the seals in the hub area near the U-joints, as such I didn't have the necessary parts on hand and of course this was on a Saturday so I'll be tearing it down to this point again to replace those in the near future. Both upper joints were toast, one was frozen solid and the other was full of rust powder. The press kit I used didn't require working through the balljoint hole after I pulled the first one. I was able to find 90 degree grease fittings for the uppers that clear the u-joints so that shouldn't be an issue again. On to the next project.

 

[DaveBen]

It isn't that hard once you have figured it out. Good going.

Dave