RAIDER NATION

Any feed back on this ball joint press?

radio flyer

I had one a couple years ago, worked fine on u-joints- failed bad on ball joints!!!!!

RAIDER NATION

that sucks. Did you use it at least more than once?

Rmart30

i figured out after i bought mine that i shoulda just got one from a parts store with a loaner program instead of purchasing one.

The HF worked ok though. Just woulda been cheaper getting a loaner.

RAIDER NATION

i just kinda figured that if im gonna keep the jeep, i should just buy this one.
Why and where dose the press fail at?

4jeepers

I had access to one several years ago. The hydraulic 20 ton bottle jack exploded on the second ball joint (Chrysler Upper Control arms). Had to improvise with a 2.5 ton AMERICAN MADE bottle jack to finish pressing the joint. Take your part to the shop. Cheaper and less time consuming in the long run.

RAIDER NATION

the press i was looking at is a c clamp style, not a hydraulic press.

Brad M.

I have personally used one to repair a friend's rig on top of Moab Rim Trail. It saved our bacon and he was so glad he bought it and packed it on the trip. If you wheel a lot, it's a good kit to have along. I would recommend buying the adapter kit for it too though.

Having said that, if you don't wheel a lot and are not concerned about doing a ball joint on the trail, it's better to just rent one from your local auto parts store and save yourself the money.

Scroll down to post #48 on this page and you'll see a shot of it in action;

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...=913774&page=4

dougy_fresh

i've never used one, but from what i have been told, they last longer if you put a decent amount of pressure on the balljoint with it, then smack the knuckle with a hammer to shock the joint into moving instead of just trying to muscle it which will end up bending the C of the press

skud007

I had one and it cracked right at the top of the c-bend. I put a impact to it when I did it though! I took it back and they replaced it without the reciept! Haven't used the replacement yet. I think you'll be fine if you use a hand wrench on it. I think they are on sale for $40 bucks, but again you get what you pay for!

whowey

I have one and have used it ALOT........ Normally when doing ball joints... I tighten the press up very tight then hit the knuckles with a BFH.

RAIDER NATION

OK. SO I REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS..UPPER AND LOWER. WHAT A *****. THE UPPER WENT FINE. THE LOWER.....****. I BENT THE RENTAL REMOVER, BROKE MY BREAKER BAR, HAD TO BUY A TORCH TO HEAT AND BEAT,AND i ENDED UP GRINDING IT OUT WITH MY ANGLE GRINDER......**** SUCKS. BUT ITS NOW DONE......THE ****TY PART WAS I HAD A BAD WOBBLE IN THE FRONT. REPLACED THE BRAKES, ROTORS, BALL JOINTS, WHEEL BEARINGS AND IT STILL SHOOK. SO I ROTATED THE TIRES, PUTTIN THE FRONT TO THE REAR.....AND IT STOPPED. ALL THAT **** AND IT WAS MY TIRES THE WHOLE TIME.......****!

RoyalXJ

ive been using my harbor freight ball joint press for almost 6 years now. ive done over 50 with no problems at all.

PingPong

I bought mine from Advance Auto. it is an Am pro brand. The reason why I went with this instead of the cheaper one.. it has a lifetime warranty. They have all ready replace it once, but that was because the fine threads got a ding.. not because it broke.

PolarXJ

I rented the one from autozone. Looks identical to the HF one. Had no problems changing my ball joints. I've even used it to press in the UCA bushing on top of the pumpkin.