hydraulic press

[triumph955i]

I was wondering how much force I need to do ball joints, wheel bearings that kind of thing. The shop wants to charge me 300 for labor. I found a press with a 12 ton force. Will that be enough to do ball joints, wheel bearing, etc?
Thanks

[_TEX_929]

holly shit yea i hope you talking about working on a car

[Nickels]

I usually do it with a hammer in the driveway..

[Mr. Jeff]

I usually do it with a hammer in the driveway..
x2

[jaceface]

ball joints wont come out with a hammer. you can rent a ball joint service kit from like oreilly's to do em. to do wheel bearings you can find a piece of pipe that fits around the tight race and wont hit anything else and tap it in.

wheel bearings on what? and i may do it cheaper, let me know what kinda vehicle and which ball joints and what not.

[triumph955i]

1984 BMW 318i. I like doing the work myself. So you don't think a press would be worth it? Just use a hammer? Im replacing the whole control arms when I do the ball joints so I don't need to take them out.

[jaceface]

it would be quicker to just rent the kit from oreilly's. i dont even know if you have to pay anything, i think you just put a deposit down. after you buy the press, find some block and adapters of some sort to support the control arm properly you could have already put the new ones in with the kit and a wrench

[triumph955i]

alright Ill prob just do that then. The press was about 150 + shipping.
Thanks for your help

[Trick]

f the press!!! did the lower ball joints in my f150 in my driveway this week... PITA! but hammer and a lil torch, and a dremel got da job done

[Burntz]

freeze the ball, heat the socket...

[jaceface]

A. dont heat suspension parts unless you have no other choice.
B. what the fuck did you use a dremel for, ball joints are a press fit. theyre supposed to go in tight.


do shit the right way, not the backyard shadetree bob way.

[Trick]

A. didnt really have any other choice... ball joint was NOT coming out and starting to fuck my aftermarket control arms....

B. after the ball joint came out it chewed up my lower arm so i needed a dremel to get it back into a circle...

havent met this "shadetree Bob" yet, where's he stay these days???

[jaceface]

how did you first try to get the ball joint out?

[mxrcr4]

not all balljoints are pressed in. some have rivets and some have threads..

[triumph955i]

these ones are pressed in but it doesnt matter now cause the car is complete junk and Im parting it out i think. Then selling the carcass to the junkyard.

[Nickels]

:(

[jaceface]

not all balljoints are pressed in. some have rivets and some have threads..

thanks captain obvious.... i dont think anyone would be starting a thread about needing a 12 ton press to get my ball joints out that are rivited in