Socket Press C-Frames

[2ndGearRubber]

Pressing axle-joints on a 3500 dodge truck this week, and I ran into a space issue. Normally I use a ball joint press C-frame, but after setting the first two caps, I found I couldn't set the other two and the second flange as I didn't have the depth required in the ball joint press. Quick and dirty result was to first lightly seat things in the vise (sorry vise) and then send things home in the 20ton shop press.


This is not my first time having an issue with a ball joint press having insufficient throat depth for a pressing application. So I'm looking at "Socket Press C-Frames" which let you use sockets or flat adapters as a press.


Cal Van makes one, $150. No listing I can find for force generated.

Cal-Van C-Frame Socket Press Set | JDTCo.

www.jerseydiscounttool.com

So does Tiger Tools, $300, but I love the tiger tool stuff I've bought. 4.5 tons listed as force generated.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCZJNK93/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These are the big two I've found. There's an OEM tools version, nearly the price of the Tiger, which means I would default to the Tiger.

So what are you guys doing for these pressing needs?

 

[ex-x-fire]

Do you think the one on the left will work? It's less likely to bend as a regular BJ press can. I have one but never used it on u joints.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have the Astro Goliath. I need depth, not width, as the body of the axle shaft where the ujoint resides hits the body of the press before the caps are lined up with the forcing screw.

I needed a solid inch+. Normally my Otc or Astro C-frame does all my pressing. But the size of the joint was just too large to fit. I've run into this plenty trying to use a ball joint press to seat bushings, etc.

My OP description was incorrect using "throat" as the limting factor.

 

[whateg01]

I would have to look at my ball joints press again, but knowing the diameter of some of the bushings, I would think it would fit most u joints. I'm assuming you mean u joints when you say axle joints. Anyway, I use sockets with it when I need to. Just had to turn an adapter to give the sockets something to center on.

 

[WWheeler]

I've always just used the big F'n hammer method, occasionally with a torch assist, as that was the way I was taught, just as I was taught never to use a C-frame press because it's too easy to bend the ears of a yoke. But a year or so ago I picked up a Lisle 42890 U-Joint Puller, a blatant knockoff of the Tiger Tool u-joint puller that's designed not to bend a yoke and have used it twice now and it works a treat. The small one I have I used for driveshafts on a Ranger and a Tacoma. There's also a medium and large size for bigger beasts.

Here's a short vid of the Tiger Tool in use ...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would have to look at my ball joints press again, but knowing the diameter of some of the bushings, I would think it would fit most u joints. I'm assuming you mean u joints when you say axle joints. Anyway, I use sockets with it when I need to. Just had to turn an adapter to give the sockets something to center on.

Yes, the universal joint in the axle shaft on a solid front axle truck, allowing it to pivot. I always write them up as axle joints for clarity vs the other 2 drive shaft joints.

Whatever year this thing is, 2012ish? The axle assembly cannot fit within a ball joint press. Remember both yolks have to fit down there to complete pressing the joint.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I've always just used the big F'n hammer method, occasionally with a torch assist, as that was the way I was taught, just as I was taught never to use a C-frame press because it's too easy to bend the ears of a yoke. But a year or so ago I picked up a Lisle 42890 U-Joint Puller, a blatant knockoff of the Tiger Tool u-joint puller that's designed not to bend a yoke and have used it twice now and it works a treat. The small one I have I used for driveshafts on a Ranger and a Tacoma. There's also a medium and large size for bigger beasts.

Here's a short vid of the Tiger Tool in use ...

I have one of those pullers, it kicks ***, which got me onto tiger tools.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have the Tiger tool c clamp as well as the u joint tool, love them both!
I have a post on here somewhere about the SO BJP1 adaptor working on the TT c clamp....I forget the details, but I was pretty happy when I discovered it!

Found it!

If you have the BJP1 and the Tiger Tool 10205......

While doing rear bushings on a Journey, found out the TT 10205 socket adaptors fit the BJP1 screw perfectly!

www.garagejournal.com

 

[plinker]

I usually use the BJP1 for U-joints, 3/4 ton + Ford axle joints have plenty of clearance with it vs. the basic OTC press I have. I dont recall having to change any Dodge axle joints with it though.

I do have a socket press from Matco, I assume it's a Cal-van rebadge, not sure. I've yet to actually use it. Seems pretty solid though.

 

[signcrafter]

What is your depth measurement? I have a snap on bjp1 and have done measurements and chevy axle joints on it with no clearance issues.

Side question, what tiger tools u joint puller you have? Does one size do everything up to 1 tons?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

OTC and Astro Goliath looks like the have 2.25 inches between the centerline of the ram and the C-frame itself

I installed a Moog 279 joint, box dimensions are 4.4" square. That lines up with my issue of the joint caps not fitting in line with the forcing screw. So anything with ~3" of depth between the center of the forcing screw and the cframe body would likely work.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What is your depth measurement? I have a snap on bjp1 and have done measurements and chevy axle joints on it with no clearance issues.

Side question, what tiger tools u joint puller you have? Does one size do everything up to 1 tons?

10105 the smallest one. It pulled the ram 3500 joints just fine. I have had issues with it pulling smaller wrangler axle joints, as the yokes are very small. So the tool can go crooked and slip if the ears of the yoke are rotted or the joint is super frozen.

Still a great tool, would buy again.