Any Ball Joint replacement tips?

pajeepman · Jun 9, 2017

Doing the ball joints on my 03 1500 4x4. Never done ball joints before but I do almost all my own auto work. I have moog uppers arms and lower ball joints. Also doing Bilstein shocks.

Any tips, good web sites or any other helpful info? My brother (doing it at his place ) downloaded the service manual from this site.

I read directions on a mechanic friends computer and it did not mention loosen the tension on the torsion bars. Basically said, put on jackstands (far out on lower control arms) removed steering knuckle and replace upper arm and lower BJ. Do you need to relieve tension on toraion bar?

Thanks

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JPT · Jun 10, 2017

If you dont remove tension, you will need another jack to control the lower control arm. You will need to keep up from bottom, then you can lower the upper to meet the knuckle.

When I did my uppers, I didn't remove tension, I did what I said above, used another jack under the lower to keep tension on it.

pajeepman · Jun 10, 2017

Yep, got first side apart, gotta press lower BJ out and replace it then it should go back together easy. Hardest part so far was getting top nut off the shock...wtf!!!!

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pajeepman · Jun 12, 2017

All done, was going good till the last bolt, the threads for a caliper bracket somehow got messed up.
Some things I learned...

Get the big ball joint press loaner kit from advance auto or wherever.

Axles nut may be 35 or 36mm. Factory shaft was 35mm, shaft from Napa was 36mm.

18mm and 21mm sockets are your friends.

You do not need to touch your torsion bars as long as you have a jack under the lower control arm.

You should have a torque wrench that goes to 185lbs.

I never did ball joints but in a driveway with a large selection of tools, I could do them again in probably 6 hours with a break here and there.

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Any Ball Joint replacement tips?

pajeepman

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JPT

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pajeepman

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pajeepman

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