What tools do I need

Todd,what I used was a BFH for the ball joints if you turn your wheels one way you can hit the ball joint were there is a high side of the metal with a couple of good hits they should come off and for the steering linkage a couple of taps should do the trick but for the pitman arm I used a pitman arm puller for a Ford van that I had laying around I tried other pullers but you need something that is pretty solid good luck.

miksan

What they said… This is the most exotic thing you will need I believe.



For stubborn ball joints, pitman arms, centerlink, etc. you can use an air chisel with the pointed tip and put it on the top of the shaft where the nut would be and sometimes the vibration help break the taper loose. That is a little tip I have picked up…

The upper ball joints will come out by drilling the rivets out if they are still stock, but more than likely they aren’t and are just nutted on.

The lower ball joints press in and out. Best to actually use a press, but you might be able to beat them out with a hammer… Same goes for the bushings. My dad machined spacers and we used the large bench vise he has, but that resulted in the vise casting exploding and my freshly coated control arm biting the dust on the cement floor. Haha Put the lower ball joints and bushings in the freezer for a day or so before you put them back in and get them in quickly once they come out of the freezer. The tolerance will open up a hair as the frozen ball joint/bushing shrinks some, not a lot, but enough to make it go a little easier. Once the vise broke we used a large c-clamp. I honestly think the only way this worked is because we froze them…













This is more than likely way overkill, but overkill is the standard I live by.

its just standard issue nylon. its pretty rigid, but it doesn't mark up the powder coat like an aluminum or steel one would.

That's a good question. Maybe you punch it out with another tool?