How exactly hard is it to replace four ball joints on my xj?

Someone told me that I ll have to take off the whole knuckle and use a press to push old ones out and press new ones in.

That sound a bit too far fetched, but I don't know if that's proper procedure or not.

What did u guys do?

 

Tear the hub apart, pull the axle shaft, get a pickle fork and separate the knuckle from the axle housing. Remove the lock rings. Now use a ball joint press to press the old out, and the new ones in.

 

What does the ball joint press look like?

 

I need to do this too, probably in the near future. I searched the forum but there're not even any titles about ball joints on the first page, searching for "ball joints". Anyone know where we can find a good tech on changing the ball joints? Maybe with pics?

 

Maybe I could make a write up. I guess

 

Is the axle shafts c-clip? Would I need to open up the differential?


If I remove the axle shaft then after I'm done and put it back, will it damage the bearings or seals in the housing?

 

Looks like a giant c clamp that you can use a breaker bar with. There are full videos of a guy doing the job beginning to end on youtube. Just search it. I did it without too much trouble in a day so it's not bad. And you can rent a ball joint press at advance or whatever.

 

I tore my front D30 HP apart a while ago & am in the middle of doing the samething, check out the video above & It'll answer most questions..... From what I understand, you can rent the "C" press from Autozone for a couple dollars....

DO NOT / or / BE CAREFUL if you use a torch to heat up the ball joints and pound out the ball joints. We did & when the grease in the joint heats up & you smack them with a B.F.H. the ball shot out like a shotgun and took a chunk of concrete out of the floor...... Holl ****, scared the crap out of us & just missed my buddy's head..... live & learn....

Lookin' back it was scary (but funny as hell when it was all over & done with)

 

Yes you need to open the differential to drain the fluid. And yes you *could* damage the seal if you aren't careful putting the shaft back in ( ).

It's amazing, I searched "how to replace ball joints on a Dana 30" on Google and came up with many fantastic results. Here is one good one. But you should try doing that yourself.

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ball...alljoint-1.htm

 

And renting a ball joint press, you pay full retail price for it when you rent it. When you return it, they refund your money (I believe in full). They do that in case someone decides to run away with the tool that they are "renting"

 

You can just do like the previous owner of my jeep did... wait for them to wallow out your axle so they just pop right out............... no wait dont.

Whole newly rebuilt axle under the front of my rig now.

 

I'm probably going to need to do this soon. Not really something I'm looking forward to. Of course, anything that might require a BFH is not on my "fun crap to do" list. But even with new drag link, tie rods, and a fresh alignment right when I bought new tires, I still have some abnormal wear on the front. Kind of a "feathering" of the treadblocks. I've heard that adjustable ball joints will fix this. Anyone tried them yet?

 

Or just tired and worn ball joints would cause this. I'm sure a fresh, quality ball joint would fix it. I doubt you need adjustables

 

Very interesting and informative article, thanks for sharing that, it help with the confidence boost that I can tackle this job, thanks!

 

Thanks for the video, too!