replacing ball joints on truck

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Bitter Dave - 22 Jul 2004 04:11 GMT

I have a 86.5 D21 (aka hardbody) truck (4x2) and the factory manual
says that the lower ball joints are sold with the lower control arm.
However, I've seen various sites on the internet selling only the
lower ball joint. Can the lower ball joint be replaced without
replacing the lower control arm?

Thanks,
Dave

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Steve T - 22 Jul 2004 04:52 GMT

> I have a 86.5 D21 (aka hardbody) truck (4x2) and the factory manual
> says that the lower ball joints are sold with the lower control arm.
> However, I've seen various sites on the internet selling only the
> lower ball joint. Can the lower ball joint be replaced without
> replacing the lower control arm?

Yep. They make a tool for doing this, looks like a giant C clamp. I've tried
using a press and it's not the way to do this, plus with this tool you
don't have to remove the arm from the truck. The tool isn't real cheap but
it's not real expencive either. Maybe you can rent one? It looks like this.

http://www.classicperform.com/product-pages/fullsize/Ball-Joint-Press.htm

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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Jim - 22 Jul 2004 13:52 GMT

>>I have a 86.5 D21 (aka hardbody) truck (4x2) and the factory manual
>>says that the lower ball joints are sold with the lower control arm.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> http://www.classicperform.com/product-pages/fullsize/Ball-Joint-Press.htm

Many parts stores will lend you one for free (with a deposit) if you buy
the joints there.

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TopPoster - 22 Jul 2004 15:10 GMT

>>> I have a 86.5 D21 (aka hardbody) truck (4x2) and the factory manual
>>> says that the lower ball joints are sold with the lower control arm.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Many parts stores will lend you one for free (with a deposit) if you buy
> the joints there.

Autozone has a tool loan program and you don't need to purchase anything
there.

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Bitter Dave - 27 Jul 2004 22:20 GMT

> Yep. They make a tool for doing this, looks like a giant C clamp. I've tried
> using a press and it's not the way to do this, plus with this tool you
> don't have to remove the arm from the truck. The tool isn't real cheap but
> it's not real expencive either. Maybe you can rent one? It looks like this.
>
> http://www.classicperform.com/product-pages/fullsize/Ball-Joint-Press.htm

Thanks for the info. It is pretty easy to replace the lower ball
joint? Since Nissan says to replace the entire control arm, I don't
have any Nissan specific instructions. Is removing the lower ball
joint pretty much just pushing out the old one and pressing in the new
one?

Thanks again for the help,
Dave

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Steve T - 22 Jul 2004 04:53 GMT

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/balljoint.php

Is another shot showing one in use.

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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Truck - 24 Jul 2004 23:16 GMT

FYI for everyone, I just picked up a similar set over at
www.harborfreight.com

Just go there and plug in 38335-obma as the item in the search via
item number. $39.99. I just received mine and after looking in the
catalog they included with the order, it's on sale now. LOL You all
enjoy the savings. I'm using it to do the rear U-joints on my '95
Pathfinder in a few weekends...

Wil

>> I have a 86.5 D21 (aka hardbody) truck (4x2) and the factory manual
>> says that the lower ball joints are sold with the lower control arm.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Is another shot showing one in use.

Reply to this Message

Bitter Dave - 27 Jul 2004 22:22 GMT

> FYI for everyone, I just picked up a similar set over at
> www.harborfreight.com
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Wil

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

Dave

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