aa35199

iTrader: (1)

I bought this with the intention of replacing the ball joints on my FB, and soon found out they are non replaceable. Anyways I have a line of friends that need their ball joints pressed and I'm not quite sure how to use the press. I assumed you would buy a set of cups that would fit on top and on the bottom of the ball joint but I can't find any thing like that. I assume you need more then the metal rod and arbor plates to get the job done. I went on youtube hoping to find a vid of some one using a similar press, no luck. Help is greatly appreciated.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Basically, you use common sense, sturdy plates/blocks/impact sockets to build up and support the work, and wear safety glasses. Avoid using hardened steel materials like bearings because pieces shoot out when they break under load.

I have changed ball joints with a c-clamp type tool I rented / borrowed from autozone. If you rent that those pieces might make the job a cinch with your press.

I haven't replaced ball joints with mine, but I've done a whole bunch of other things. For light duty work like pressing off transmission bearings, a bearing splitter tool and 12" long pieces of 4x4 wood beam work very well. Wheel bearings and suspension bushings require a fair amount more force, so the heavier the work the more rigid your support pieces have to be.

Have a look in the 3rd gen section for a bushing install thread by user JimLab. He shows his setup for replacing every bushing in an FD suspension, so it's loaded with a variety of examples.

Dave

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Harbor Freight also sells the adapters:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66958

LargeOrangeFont

iTrader: (7)

Ive used a press many times before, but bought the 12 ton Harbor Freight unit above for myself after Christmas. It is pretty good for the money and I have already used it for 2 jobs.

Basically, all of the above is correct. Pressing things in and out will require different accessories for every job you do, and generally you will need other pieces to press things out or into.

You can use impact sockets, and sturdy metal plates, blocks, or thick walled tubing. I would stay away from wood, but that is just me.

The special arbors and attachments you will need for various jobs will easily cost more than you spent on the press. See the ball joint set referenced above from Harbor Freight.

I would find some local machine shops and see if they will give or sell you some scrap material, and just start collecting pieces to use.

Last week I got a piece of steel tube to press out my DTSS bushings from a machine shop that was doing another small job for me. He cut the piece and gave it to me free.