Hey everyone I have searched around and I am having trouble figuring out how to get the upper ball joints out. Do you have to grind the top of it off? I have a ball joint press does anyone have any pics of how they removed their UBJ. Normally, I don't have problems with this kind of stuff but these are different then the ball joints I have done before. Thanks!

 

Top ball joints press in differently from the lower ball joints which press in from the opposite direction.

 

Yes, you have to grind some (or all) of the top flange of the ball joint off so you have some area of the upper arm to bear against and press the joint out. I took the arm off (no spring compressor required) and used cutoff wheels on my Dremel to cut the outer flange away.

I also ended up cutting off the rolled portion (“ring”) of the joint closest to the center shaft (covering the ball) so the socket I had would work when pressing the ball joint out. I supported the arm on the arbor plates of my Harbor Freight 12 ton press and used a 1/2” deepwell socket to press the old joint out.

Used another socket to receive the stem of the joint when pressing the new one in.

The grinding was the longest part of the whole job.

 

If you read the relevant section in the JTIS, it shows you exactly where to make the two cuts. I used a hacksaw.

I also cut off the stub of the balljoint, which makes it easier to press out the joint.

Please note that if you have a Harbor Freight press, the cheap cast arbor plates are liable to shatter. It can be very dangerous. I bought a proper ground pair.

Also if you are using sockets, they should be the impact type. Normal chromed sockets are also prone to shatter.

 

I have not seen the JTIS, I have tried downloading it but I can't get it to run on my Macbook. I have access to an industrial press at work. Thank you everyone for the replies.

 

I did mine using a heavy duty C-clamp kit and sockets, but I had to cut off the ball joint lip into a hex shape so the socket could seat on the wishbone properly - an angle grinder, hacksaw and chisel did the job but it was hard work - even when I got through the lip metal parts of it were rust welded to the wishbone....