Changing ball joints on an 86 (Page 2/2)
josef644 FEB 01, 06:07 PM
I picked up my lower ball joints this morning, and when I was at Autozone to price the installer tool, they only had a new one unopened in the box. Its $99.00, and they refund it when you return it. I used all of the methods you did except I had put new shocks on a few weeks back and knew that the shock limits the down travel of the lower control arm. I didn't see a need to chain the spring. Between the shock and the sway bar I was happy. But do what works best for you.

I also took a poor quality picture of the installer tool on the ball joint. It took me a while to figure out how to set it up to work correctly. Maybe this picture will save some one else a quarter hour of time.
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I think I can do the second one in about a half an hour. I went ahead and ordered the uppers to replace, as they are very easy to change out at this stage of un-assembly.
Thanks again for posting this as it was an item I was dreading to start in to doing.
Joe Crawford
Texas

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-01-2008).]

Zeb FEB 01, 09:02 PM
Thanks, Curlup, and all the rest of you guys. Now I'll know what to do this spring!
1MohrFiero FEB 02, 08:00 AM
Great right up. Even though you have to adapt the Habor Freight tool it is a help to have.

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josef644 FEB 04, 10:03 PM
I drove my car today after switching out all 4 front ball joints, and the difference is great. It used to pull to the right at all speeds. I can now see the red square in the tach that used to be covered by the steering wheel off center. Now she is pretty well straight down the road. I have a little shake at about 65-70. I am having the tires balanced again, and the 4 wheel alignment done Wednesday morning. Wasn't the bad jobI feared it would be.
Lets see what can I fix next?
Curlrup FEB 04, 10:13 PM
Looks like your press had the one adapter mine didn't. The one that fits in the gap under the lower contorl arm. Looks good, someone told me that by doing the joints myself I saved $200-$300 in labor. I have no idea if that's true but I know I saved some cash. It's like getting an alignment for free.