Ball Joints
Thread Starter
Martin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 260
From: Lehi, Utah
Ball Joints
Replaced ball joints with O'Reilly MasterPro brand instead of Moog. They where $60 vs $180 and not sure what life span of truck will be. Anyone have experience with these less expensive suspension parts?
It's a Canadian thing eh!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,539
Likes: 196
From: Ontario, living across a hay field
You can still do it with hand tools, but having a ball joint press is a must and its much better then whacking it in by hand with over sized sockets and a BFH.
As for the ball joints you get what you paid for. 60$ Economy parts vs a 180$ long lasting and much better warranty part even if they are both from the same manufacturer. Try places on line like Rockauto.com and you get real good prices for the better parts.
As for the ball joints you get what you paid for. 60$ Economy parts vs a 180$ long lasting and much better warranty part even if they are both from the same manufacturer. Try places on line like Rockauto.com and you get real good prices for the better parts.
Last edited by sylver91; Feb 2, 2014 at 09:54 PM.
Hi-Rev Motorsports
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,898
Likes: 65
From: Northern Indiana
it is easy for 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive... the hardest part is pulling the axles on 4 wheel drives..
once you got the axles out just pull the spindles. before I even start i take the new ball joints and toss them in the freezer...usually the day before...
I have a heavy vice and a piece of pipe just smaller than the ball joint and a 10 pound hand sledge hammer...
using a screw driver and air clean and pull the snap rings..they will be covered by crud. I set the spindle on the vise and knock the easy one out then reach the pipe thru the spindle and knock the other out... clean up the spindle.
once clean take one side of ball joints out of the freezer and place the last one in first then the easy one... they will drop right in if frozen and if they dont drop all teh way a slight tap will pop them in place. put the snap rings on and do the other side.
replace the spindles...
I can do both sides on a 2 wheel drive in about 45 minutes all 4 joints. it isnt that hard. pulling the axles on 4 wheel drive takes me another 30 minutes. so plan a few hours.
if you have a 4 wheel drive you might as well replace the axle u-joints while they are out...
once you got the axles out just pull the spindles. before I even start i take the new ball joints and toss them in the freezer...usually the day before...
I have a heavy vice and a piece of pipe just smaller than the ball joint and a 10 pound hand sledge hammer...
using a screw driver and air clean and pull the snap rings..they will be covered by crud. I set the spindle on the vise and knock the easy one out then reach the pipe thru the spindle and knock the other out... clean up the spindle.
once clean take one side of ball joints out of the freezer and place the last one in first then the easy one... they will drop right in if frozen and if they dont drop all teh way a slight tap will pop them in place. put the snap rings on and do the other side.
replace the spindles...
I can do both sides on a 2 wheel drive in about 45 minutes all 4 joints. it isnt that hard. pulling the axles on 4 wheel drive takes me another 30 minutes. so plan a few hours.
if you have a 4 wheel drive you might as well replace the axle u-joints while they are out...
Thread Starter
Martin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 260
From: Lehi, Utah
All I can say is I spent a bit more time than that on the job. 
Freezing the new ball joints makes sense as I have used that method with ring and pinion setup before. I had one alignment bushing rusted bad that was a real booger to get out. That sucker really slowed the entire job up, definitely would pre soak were I in the rust zone.
Guess only time will tell how the budget brand holds up. It is nice to have the option for an old rig.
Freezing the new ball joints makes sense as I have used that method with ring and pinion setup before. I had one alignment bushing rusted bad that was a real booger to get out. That sucker really slowed the entire job up, definitely would pre soak were I in the rust zone.
Guess only time will tell how the budget brand holds up. It is nice to have the option for an old rig.
