Beating out Ball Joints

[shortbed]

Okay . . . I've gotten the steering knuckle of my 78 4 wheel drive f150 onto the work table. I tried using the Ball Joint Press I rented from the parts store to press the upper ball joint out and I've whacked on it with a two pound sledge, but I'm uneasy about both of these procedures. The hammering cause I'm afraid of cracking the knuckle and the press cause it just seems to stop at one point and feels like it wants to strip out after that. Can anyone assure me that either of these is going to be okay or is some other approach better.

jim in nc

 

[Fellro]

A 2 pound really isn't that much. Some of them are quite stubborn, especially on older items that are rusted in. If you strip out the press, it was junk anyway, as it should easily handle it. It is also possible what feels like stripping is actually the ball joint starting to give.

 

[shortbed]

Okay, Roger, I've got it in a vise and well, I'm a carpenter and I've got hammers and BIG hammers, but I'll try the press again first. I also may be able to set up a hammer drill with a socket (7/8) for the threaded rod and maybe even borrow an air impact driver.
Would heat on the knuckle around the joint be of any help . . .?
Thanks for your time- you've helped me out before and hey, I just noticed your 'project truck' and cept for the engine, I've got a straight six, it's exactly my model 78 150 4wd shortbed ... the best truck ever made.

jim in nc

 

[shortbed]

Well good news. They're out, like a bad tooth, two bad teeth. Now to seat the new ones. I bought Moogs. They're serrated, ribbed, little grooves where they sit in the smooth race of the steering knuckle. Why'd they make em that way I wonder and there's a threaded insert for the upper and its purpose I can't figure either. Going to try and seat them tonight.

jim in nc

 

[dustybumpers]

The screw in part is the camber kit. The front end alignment shop will change them as needed to bring the camber into .

The ribs bite in, and keep the tapered part of the ball joint from turning in the bore, causing where where none is desiged to be.

 

[Fellro]

Charlie got you covered.

 

[shortbed]

Well I thought I'd done a good enough job, but apparently, while replacing the spline in the differential a seal . . . in the differential . . . was damaged and now oil is leaking out from the axle housing. I've looked online but so far nothing about what to do now. I going to write a new post and see how much trouble I've gotten myself into.

 

[dustybumpers]

Sadly, the seal is behind everything you just put back together.
Only good thing, you don't have to pull the ball joints this time