My new least favorite "job" to do on a TR!!

[NCTURBOS]

Ball joints!! Especially the lower press-in units.

Getting the old ones out was a breeze, all it took was an air chisel for the rivets holding the uppers in, and the 3-in-1 kit from work to press out the lowers.

The problem was getting the new lowers back in!! Now that the job is finished though, I'm happy with the results. 20 year old cars sometimes need these things.

I think I'll opt for new lower control arms next time... :biggrin:


K.

 

[Louie L.]

Presing in those lowers ball joints suck big time. BTDT

 

[vader87]

Light coat of grease on the joint. Using a jack and a BF socket, place the joint in the hole alligning it. Place the socket over the joint and jack up the jack holding it in place. SLOWLY jack up the jack putting weight on the joint. Now take a hammer a begin tapping the A arm. Joint will start moving in. Sometimes it works great and sometimes you may have to really hit it. Just a cheaper (redneck) way I do it.

 

[NCTURBOS]

...sometimes you may have to really hit it. Just a cheaper (redneck) way I do it.

This is what I eventually had to do. :biggrin: After spending hours with the 3-in-1 kit trying to press them back in.


K.

 

[GNguy]

I really didnt like doing the passenger exhaust manifold.

 

[Mike Licht]

Anything involving trans fluid or rear end dope

 

[SPOOLN]

Taking off the heat shield by the AC Box. Those screws that are down behind the valve cover.

 

[turbofish38]

The first time around for anything! Head gaskets,transmissions,etc. I have a cheap a$$ Horrible Freight arbor press that I use for ball joints and bushings. I made a couple of fixtures using electrical conduit and PVC pipe from the Homey Deepot. I love the sound when these basstards pop out of a 20 year old part. If you love to screw around with these cars you got to have a system. I like to see how long it takes me to do the remove part of a R&R. I take my time when I do the replace part.

 

[TWISTER]

CRANK SENSOR Man why use an aluminum bracket on a steel dowel pin. PITA

 

[Turbo Indian]

you mean they make tools to remove & replace them? hell I've always used a BF hammer & some WD-40. try doing it to a 38 year old car.

 

[jpwalt1987]

my $50 ball joint press kit from carquest works awesome. coming out and going in. i have probably changed about 150 ball joints with that thing and it is one of the best tools i have ever bought. just have to have the car up high enough to have room to work. later, jeremy

 

[Pablo]

I've been lucky, I've done all my work at the auto hobby shop on base where they have every tool imaginable so all of this stuff has been relatively easy.


The front suspension was definately one of the most PITA projects yet. If I didnt have their help with cutting torches to get out the old bushings, and a nice press to get out the old joints I probably would have gone insane.