Ball joint press advice

[AM Woody]

Four days, 3 pieces of wood, half a can of Blaster later, and the spindles are off!

Getting down to the ball joints on the '90 GW. Looking to add to the collection and invest in a ball joint press which looks like $70 to $130. But, I'm doing a little research and I see extra adapters for your ball joint press for Dana 44 axles add substantially to the price. Any advice here on the right price and the right tool for the job?

Thanks,
Andy

[Bob Barry]

Autozone will let you borrow the kit for free. At least, that's what I do.

[davez26]

I bought a kit @ Harbor Freight. It also pushes u-joints. It was cheap, but effective. It did not have a necessary adapter, but I improvised and all is good. I'd borrow one 1st before I'd spend money on a tool that you won't use all that often.

[LRRH]

Autozone will let you borrow the kit for free.Ditto! That was my choice as well. I had a similar experience with removing the spindles. Lots of heat worked for me.

On a side not, AZ will require a $100 deposit for borrowing the tool. When I got mine from them it was still wrapped in plastic!

Are you in the city or suburbs??

[AM Woody]

Yeah, maybe I'll just do the ol' a-zone routine. Thanks for the advice.

LRRH, I'm in the city...

[LRRH]

you've got 5 cars and you live in the city??

WOW! How's parking???

[LRRH]

oh...you might as well replace everything while you'vd got it torn apart. inner/outer bearings....axle shaft ujoints.....

[AM Woody]

Yep, the axle 'joints are toast. Knew that going in. Hope never to be back in here again, but I'll never-sieze everything just in case...

I have more than 5 cars. I have 7 here in the city right now. Luckily, I found a place with a 3-car garage, and I rent another garage, and two live outside. I have a dear friend with a farm in Michigan who keeps the rest of the project and parts cars for me!

It's like an automotive emergency room all the time...

[LRRH]

It's like an automotive emergency room all the time...I know the feeling. Where I used to live we had 4 FSJs 2 AMCs and a few others! Where in the city?? We'll have to get together sometime. I know quite a few FSJers in the area.

[AM Woody]

Where in the city?? We'll have to get together sometime. I know quite a few FSJers in the area That'd be cool. Actually, my wife is the FSJer. I'm just the mechanic. tongue.gif She'll probably let me come along. We live near "US Cellular Field." We met "jeepguzzi" already. He helped us out with a part recently...

Well, the knuckles are off, so I'll be off to autozone tomorrow...