Ball Joint dust boot arthritis challenge

[roadrunnerh]

Holy cow! I'm rebuilding my front suspension on my '75 Scamp, and these Moog K772 Upper dust boots are a major bitch to get on by hand.
Same part fits my '68 Road Runner. Can anybody share some techniques? The boots for the lowers appear just as difficult.
Thanks guys!

 

[MarPar]

Some lube perhaps? Something that is not petroleum based like Sil-lube.

 

[copper67sat]

I went through this on my 67 recently. I had a piece of pipe that was the right diameter to just fit over the boot and rest on the boot flange. I used a piece wood and hammer to tap the pipe and press the boot onto the joint.

 

[khryslerkid]

I don't remember having any trouble with the bottom ones. The top ones were a pain until I figured a way to press them on.

You have to find something that fits snug without any play. I'm using a bearing race then a conduit coupler.

Then gently press it on. Hitting it with a hammer would just bounce off.

 

[s/w theo]

Last set of ball joints I did (I think they were Mevotech) came with heavy plastic shells to install the boots. They fit over the boot flange & tapped on with a hammer to seat them, but yeah, they fit very tight now a days & are near impossible to install by hand, but they DO stay in place.

 

[AR67GTX]

That looks similar to my Harbor Freight 6 ton press. For the money one of the handiest tools I have when I need it. Nice photo explanation.

 

[khryslerkid]

That looks similar to my Harbor Freight 6 ton press. For the money one of the handiest tools I have when I need it. Nice photo explanation.

Actually it's the 20 ton press. They would go on sale for $99. every now and then. Can't beat it.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I don't remember having any trouble with the bottom ones. The top ones were a pain until I figured a way to press them on.

You have to find something that fits snug without any play. I'm using a bearing race then a conduit coupler.
View attachment 1702272View attachment 1702273View attachment 1702274

Then gently press it on. Hitting it with a hammer would just bounce off.
View attachment 1702275
View attachment 1702276

Exactly how I do it... Though my old bearing race looks like it's been through a war... Yours looks just spiffy...