The ball joint, a ball-and-socket arrangement, lets the steering suspension pivot, allowing the vehicle to turn. Similar to a hip ball and socket, the part wears due to the twisting and torquing motion. It also receives a shock load from the vehicles weight. Eventually, ball joints wear out and require replacement. Worn ball joints can cause serious steering binding and front end misalignment. Choosing the correct tools to replace the balls joints can be as important as the replacement parts.
Floor Jack
Use the hydraulic floor jack in place of any professional lift. The 1 1/2-ton or 2-ton lifting capacities have the strength necessary to hoist either end of the vehicle for placement of the jack stands. Floor jacks also support, lower and raise the control arm when you need to relieve pressure. They function as alignment tools to lift the heavy suspension parts back into place.
Jack Stands
Jack stands provide a level and stable platform for the vehicle while you perform work on the ball joints. They must have sufficient durability to withstand the largest truck bodies, and include safety locking mechanisms that prevent slippage, wobble and accidental drop.
Pickle Fork
The pickle fork, also known as the ball joint removal tool, allows you to break the seam of the ball joint away from the control arms once you have removed the castellated nuts and cotter pins. Hit on the end with a hammer, they pry a seal open between the metal components. Pickle forks also remove the joint in the outer tie rod end, where you must use force to separate it.
Socket Set and Wrenches
Complete socket sets and wrenches in the 1/2-inch drive versions perform well when you need to remove the heavy caliper bolts and castellated ball joint nuts. Sockets in the six-point configuration make the best gripping contact for nuts and bolts. Ratchet wrenches with fine-tooth gears work well for confined spaces. Wrenches in the 1/2-inch drive sizes in the combination head design provide more leverage to remove stubborn bolts.
Drill Motors and Air Chisels
You can sometimes use drill motors with assorted bits to drill out the factory rivets that hold many ball joints in place. Use the correct size drill bit on the top of the rivet head to drill it completely out of the rivet hole. You can also use air chisels with cutting bits to cut off the rivet heads flush at the control arm surface. You can use either tool for removing the rivets.
Pry Bar
The long-handle pry bar provides adequate leverage to lift or pry the heavy suspension components and to force hubs lose. It also provides leverage strength for lifting the controls arms when you need to align them with ball joint and tie rod connection points.
Snap Ring Pliers
When four-wheel, front-wheel drive trucks need ball joint replacement, you must use snap ring pliers to remove the retainer ring on the outer hub axle. The tool has a specialized pliers head to fit into slots of the retainer ring.
Hammers
Use a large rubber mallet when dealing with stuck rotors and other parts that require force and shock to remove or separate them. The rubber head of the mallet provides a cushioning effect that prevents damage to precision machined parts, such as bearing surfaces and rotor faces. Large metal sledge hammers provide the weight and shock necessary to strike the pickle fork, or the tie rod and ball joint heads.
Torque Wrench
Torque wrenches, measured in foot-lbs., provide the exact tightening pressure required to set the castellated nuts, caliper mount and caliper, and the ball joint mounting bolts. They come in either "click" design wherein a snapping noise signifies the correct pressure, or in the dial indicator design.
Wire Cutters
Wire cutters come in handy for clipping the cotter pins, attached to the tie rod and ball joint castellated nuts. They also work well for flaring the ends of the cotter pins once you have installed them.
Spring Compressors
For certain model and make vehicles, you must use spring compressors to compress the springs that fit between the upper control arm and the frame. Used to relieve pressure, the compressors have adjusting nuts that collapse or open the springs via hook-type gripping arms. They function as a safer alternative to the pry bar, which often performs the same job.
Tire Irons
Tire irons allow you to loosen wheel lug nuts. The star or X-shaped configurations work best for leverage and socket selection.
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