Ball joint replacement
 

I'm wanting to replace my ball joints at home. Is this doable at home? Any tips are welcome!

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

Hmmmm I know I did mine they werent too bad. I think I just used a mini sledge and put jack stand under the a arm. I might of had a puller or something but the ball joint separator I bought didnt work. Sorry not much help but its def doable in the driveway. Oh yeah MOOG ball joints here...also did the tie rods at the same time.

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

I have recently changed mine at home so yes. Jack the car up high so you have room for the rent A tool. You can use an impact on the tool or just tighten it up and smack the top with a hammer , repeat. I heated up the A Arm for the passenger side because it was being stubborn, just a propane torch and done.
Reverse the tool to reinstall.Took about one hour per side depending on Beer consumption! lol

I was planning on the a set of Steeda X2's. Steeda parts are usually good right? I guess I should consider the tie rods as well. Did you have a prob putting the new ones in without the special tool?

What do you think about removing the A arm's and taking them to a local shop to have them swap the ball joints out..?

The "stubborn" part has me worried haha.

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

Steeda stuff is good. Jus dont go with those cheapo autozone ones! The ball joint werent bad at all. I thought they were gonna be worse after the things I had read. You could remove the a arms if you wanted and have someone else do it But Id give it a try for yourself 1st.

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

I guess it just depends on your Money to Patience ratio !
By stubborn I mean it wasn't coming out fast enough for me ( patience)
I just like the challenge and doing it myself and the money I save goes into more mods,not someone else pocket.
Having said that ,if they want to charge me 400$ labor to replace my ring and pinion and spider gears with a warranty, that's another story !

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

My humble suggestion...if you are taking the arms out anyway... a good set of MOOG replacement ball joints run @ 50$ or so each...or a little more. When my Dad's mustang had a ball joint break, I got the replacement arms thru LRS for @ $200.00, Got new joints and bushings...

if you are taking the arms out anyway..makes for an easy swap. get grease fittings too if i remember for the joints...

Just a suggestion...its not a bad job just doing the ball joints. just get a quality one like MOOG or Steeda, and use the right tool...

as always...JMHO

Thanks guys! Appreciate the info. I think I'll give it a try. It certainly helps not being my daily. I post up if I have questions once I get started.


Instagram: @ab_mach1

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

Just go and rent the ball joint removal / install tool from a auto parts store . A little WD -40 and they will go in fine.

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

Just put a new set of tires on the Mach 1 (Cooper RS3A-S) and checked out the front end, and what do you know? Ball joint time. So I'll be beating and banging on it this coming week, and I agree that putting Moog parts on is the only smart move out there. Everything else seems fine, so 123k in, everything seems to be holding up.

:borg:

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

How do like those tires?

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

I'm gonna give them a few days before deciding how much I like them or don't. First impressions are good,but launch traction is only fair, but these are new tires so I'll give them a chance to wear in.

:borg:

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

I have tried 2 sets on my car recently.The price is good and they handle pretty well for a 300 tw tire but do not hold up to the rigors of track use. I tore big chunks of tread out right down to the cord on all four tires on two different sets so I had to trash them. The chunks seem to have been torn out under braking.

Re: Ball joint replacement
 

Money to patience ratio. I'm going to remember that one. :23: