Ball Joint Tool.

[hurmit4life]

All-

I have been in the process of tearing down the front end of my 66 Charger. Todays task was to remove the ball joints and upper A-arms.

Looking through the 66 Manual, I saw a specialized socket to remove the ball joint. And I did not have one. I thought about it...can I use a big crescent wrench? These things have been on there for a LONG time and I could foresee some rounding over of the ball joint square on top of the unit.

So...as I read further in the manual, there was a mention of a 1 3/4 socket. I HAVE one of those...from the 3/4" drive socket set I inherited from my father after he passed away in June.

I opened the 40+ year old Crafstman socket set. And to my surpirse...in with the Craftsman sockets...was an antique Snap-on ball joint removal socket!

Most of the cars in my family from the 50's to the 80's were Mopars. And Dad had obviosly changed out ball joints at one time or another. All I had to do was open that set and the right tool for the job was in my garage all along. My dad had to be smiling down upon me today.

FYI: most stubborn thing I have ever removed. I even put a 2 foot cheater bar on the end of the 3/4" breaker bar...and some heat from a torch...and both ball joints finally broke loose. Had I not had that socket....ugh. I hate to think about it.

Thanks, Dad!

 

[SandDiesel]

Sweet! I usually make no less than three trips to auto parts stores or Home Depot no matter what the project.

 

[Deleted member 214]

I had my A-arm off the car when I tried mine. Bad idea - there was no way I could clamp it down enough that my grunting on the wrench didn't move the arm and not the ball joint. I had a 2' x 1/2" breaker bar with a cheater pipe. The tool slipped socket flew up and put a permanent scar over my eye. I took to the local garage. Glad you had better luck than I did!

 

[chrisd]

I used an electric impact with a socket I bought off Amazon

 

[Johnfrmtx]

I gave up after bending a cheater pipe, breaking a Craftsman 3/4 ratchet, Impact wouldn't budget them and bought stainless upper control arms with new ball joints installed. Met a guy at a show once that had done his with a press! Think about that!

 

[PDFROGMAN]

it was a practice for Non Mopar mechanics to put a tack weld on those ball joints :angry:
back in 78 I worked a local autoparts store that had a shop attached to it (kind of like pep boys I was working weekdays at a dodge dealer) I watch an oldtimer take an air chiesel spin it out hammer a new one in and tack it what a ******* hack! too cheap to buy the socket.
easiest way to remove and install is right socket and an impact gun
used to do both sides in shop in less than 20 mins book used tocgive you 1/2 hour each side cha ching!
ah the good ole days!

 

[roadrunnerman]

i bought a 1" socket set yrs ago don't use it much but i know i have it when i do. sounds like your dad knew you were going to need that tool sometime in the future.

 

[Cranky]

I'll clean up the joints and shoot em with penetrating oil a few days ahead of time if I can but yeah, impact guns are my friends lol

 

[hurmit4life]

I had my A-arm off the car when I tried mine. Bad idea - there was no way I could clamp it down enough that my grunting on the wrench didn't move the arm and not the ball joint. I had a 2' x 1/2" breaker bar with a cheater pipe. The tool slipped socket flew up and put a permanent scar over my eye. I took to the local garage. Glad you had better luck than I did!

Gregs70; I did not mention in the original post, but there were injuries. Specifically, when removing the drivers side ball joint...I was pushing with all my might (and there's a lot of might there...6'4" tall and 285 lb) on the cheater bar, and the socket slipped. I did a full-on "shoulder block" style hit into the inner wheel well. That was 2 weeks ago and I still have a mulit-colored bruise across my shoulder and some tender ribs.

The things we do for those we love, right?