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ball joint removal ?

bronko69er

EB Addict
Joined
Oct 16, 2006
Messages
4,599
Loc.
Renton, WA
Hubs, discs, calipers, spindles, axle shafts....
Basically everything outboard of the ball joints.
And it you jack up/disassemble one side at a time, you might avoid leaking gear oil everywhere from the axle tube.
 

Broncitis

MEB Founder
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
5,269
Remove Wheel/tire
Remove caliper from bracket
Remove Lockout hub
Remove Spindle bearing lock nut assy.
Remove Hub/disc assembly and wheel bearings
Remove spindle nuts
Remove spindle from caliper bracket
Remove axle shaft
Remove caliper bracket
LOOSEN (leave a couple threads engaged, do not remove) nuts from upper and lower ball joints
Remove tie rod end from knuckle

Hit side of yoke or "C" where tapered studs are seated. A couple sharp blows square to the side should unseat the tapered ball joint studs.

The loosened (but not removed nuts) will keep the knuckle from breaking your toes when it pops!

Remove the snap ring from the lower ball joint

Press out the lower joint first, then you can access the upper.

Install the upper first, then the lower

Install the new upper adjuster

reassemble
 

Sweathog

Jr. Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
311
Loc.
Lansing
Just swapped knuckles from a '79 so everything came off. I don't see the ball joints coming loose without the axle shaft removed. To remove the axle shaft, all the outer parts need to be removed first. Think of it as a good time to regrease bearings and replace brake parts.
Moog had instructions to unseat the taper on the upper ball with a pitman arm puller -Worked fairly easy. Lowers as Broncitis mentions- give it a few whacks on the side of the knuckle.
My Advance Auto has a loaner tool to press the joints out and in the knuckle.
 

eds66bronco

Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 3, 2004
Messages
1,119
Loc.
Essex, Vermont
take a look at your new ball joints. they will have a shoulder on them up towards the threaded part. This shoulder can't pass through the knuckle. You need to press them upwards and out. See http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-12204-dana-44-ball-joints-pair.html

You will also need one of these to remove the old and set the preload on the new tapered bushing (center of photo above).

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-12204SS-spanner-socket.html


You will need a balljoint press to get the balljoints out. rent one from autozone or get one from harbor freight. they make it sooooo much easier. p.s. remember to remove the snaprings first!
 
OP
OP
hdmc

hdmc

Full Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
517
Loc.
goodyear AZ
Aperantly the snap rings were missing got the old ones out just waiting on the new ones thanks for the help .
 

Knox

Newbie
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
33
dana 44

put not on spindle and hit with hammer, sometime they are hard to get off, make or buy tool uses nut on one end with short pipe and then a plate welded on other end use threaded bolt thru plate to press on end of shaft to push spindle off buy pulling on threads.

here's the dana 44 manual

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5310-3.PDF

the pics are better in the dana 30 manual

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5304-2.PDF


Knox
 
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