View Single Post
Old 05-25-2011, 07:52 PM   #134
TheWhiteElephant
God is good!
 
TheWhiteElephant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 689
Re: 1973 K20 Build Thread

Okay, most (sane) people insist on using a vise to remove and install the ball joints. I will show you how you can do this WITHOUT a vise. Be forewarned, you have to really muscle the ball joints in there with the help of some wisely-applied leverage. I don't own a vise so I had to do it this way, and frankly, I enjoyed the challenge. If you have access to a vice though, by all means, use it. First get your 1/2" drive breaker bar and the hydraulic jack handle and assume this position...

Name:  IMG_1439.JPG
Views: 5509
Size:  101.0 KB

The trick is to hold the spindle end with your left hand and push downward while tightening the press with your right arm. Basically, you counter the weight. This is the right spindle. It is definitely more of a challenge to install the ball joints than to remove them. You really cannot do this without the breaker bar.

Name:  IMG_1445.jpg
Views: 5561
Size:  51.1 KB

A view of the driver side spindle...

Name:  IMG_1448.JPG
Views: 5508
Size:  71.3 KB


Voila!


Name:  IMG_1446.jpg
Views: 5476
Size:  53.8 KB
Name:  IMG_1450.jpg
Views: 5499
Size:  61.4 KB
__________________
Mando

"It takes a smart man to know when he's stupid." -- Barney Rubble

My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430367
TheWhiteElephant is offline   Reply With Quote