Does anyone know how many pounds of pressure are required to press ball joints out off and into upper and lower control arms?

Thanks

 

I have no idea, are you going to try this yourself, or take your parts and new ball joints to a nearby shop to have it done? I wouldn't think it would be THAT much, most presses will do nicely.

 

My 20-ton press does the job nicely. I was told from another forum that a 10- ton press will be hit or miss.

 

Thank you MrTexasDan I was thinking that it was going to require 8-12 tons based on vehicle weight and ride dynamics. If not, ball joints would likely not stay fast in the control arm.

I was wondering, the upper ball joints look like they should press out fairly "easy"; However, I was thinking that the lower ball joints might present a greater challenge. What was your experience?

Thanks for the reply.

 

I didn't notice a difference between the lowers and uppers. They are about the same diameter, so I would guess about the same amount of press-fit force.

Simple 20-ton presses are not that expensive and can pay for themselves fairly quickly. I paid under $200 for mine new at Northern Tool a few years ago. I saw one gently used on CL for $185 recently.

 

Did you have to use the "special" ball joint release tool noted in the JTIS? The JTIS shows a tool that produces upward pressure on the ball joint to release it from the knuckle without tearing the rubber shroud. Is this tool really needed or can one carefully tap on the bottom of the ball joint bolt with a plastic tip hammer?

Thanks for the follow up reply.

 

no you cannot tap on the stud with a plastic hammer or even metal. thatll just destroy the stud and might leave it distorted enough to not come out at all. What you do is hit the knuckle where the stud goes though(on the side, not the bottom) and to keep from hittiting something you dont want to I like to use a large ball peen hammer against the knuckle and anothe large hammer(aka 3-5# sledge) to hit the ball on the ball peen hammer. This will pop the stud loose after some well places wacks. And remember your safty glasses

 

Thanks Brutal. Now that you mention it I recall this practice from my childhood. My farther would usually apply a light oil or liquid wrench the night before and use the apposing hammer technique the next day with good results. As you say, a few well placed taps with the hammer usually did the trick. Sixty years latter the physics of the problem hasn't change: F=MA.

Cheers!

 

Absolutely, that's a great way to pop ball joints.

But, sorry since you were asking about pressing them out of the control arms, i was assuming you were replacing them, in which case it really doesn't matter if you use a pickle fork and wreck the rubber.