gone postal

Which ball joint removal tool have you guys used? I've seen the vids on youtube referencing using various and sundry items as spacers for the tools as they're not big enough, etc. for the ball joints on the F-150s.

Anyone got a link to a toolset that DOES work on the trucks? I have to buy it, I want to do it once without guessing. (also need it for other jobs, but I figure the truck is the heaviest things it has to tackle)

ford4wd08

Have you considered renting a kit? That's what I did when I did my balljoints. It was a universal kit that had various different sizes and I made one work for the truck.

gone postal

Considered and rejected. I know people who have bent the kits from advance auto, and the local NAPA doesn't rent/loan tools.

ford4wd08

How can you bend it? It's a c clamp with a power screw and some solid steel "sockets" for lack of better words. Mine was rented from advanced auto. Had no troubles. I did it all with hand tools through. I didn't through an impact on and torque the crap out it.

gone postal

Hence the issue.

I fully intend on using an impact wrench, and don't feel like buying the tool multiple times.

Found a forged kit on eBay, I'll give that one a shot.

ford4wd08

Good luck! The ball joints really aren't bad on these trucks. Were much harder on my 95 f150 I had.

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

My Adap rental kit was missing the bigger cup I needed, but 2" ips black cap did the trick.. Yes it's improvising, but depending on the vehicle there is likely no kit in existence that will work perfectly every-time..

The key to these ball joint presses is lube and plenty of it on the threads.. A combo of anti seize and oil will prevent the threads from binding which is how these presses tend to bend and break..

gone postal

Thanks much.

lewissa81

FYI, don't bother with the ones from Harbor Freight. I've broken two of those. The bolt and threads held up fine, but they both broke at the bend of the "C." I'm not sure I would even call them "steel."