Opinions on Ball Joint service set

[lakebrooks10]

What is the best universal kit on the market? Heard the PowerBilt set outdoes the truck brands but want to hear the reviews before I make the purchase. It will be used in a auto repair shop so I'll need it to hold up decent.

 

[mypov]

Emm, I would say the Snap on Kit is most versatile, and sturdy, but has the price tag that comes with it. I bought that kit and haven't looked back, owner of the shop I worked in had a couple of OTC sets, and a mac set, the Snap on had more than both combined, and I found had the best fit across most manufacturers...That being said, you can get the job done with a cheaper set for sure. So, it's more about what you want to pay, and live without, then "the best" ... hope that helps a lill.

 

[warmpancakes]

Home use rental from auto zone

Pro use. Snap on kit. Makes ram 4x4 ball joints your *****

 

[ADSR]

Home use rental from auto zone

Pro use. Snap on kit. Makes ram 4x4 ball joints your *****

It's that good, eh?

 

[shockwave]

Powerbilt looks like rebranded Otc ball joint press

I have to say that the snap on is the best press I have used on the market imo

But otc will have greater coverage if you buy the master kits (but you will need 4 hands to use at times)

Snap on is the way to go

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

The OTC kit has served me well for a couple of Dana 60's and a Dana 44, among other things. Definitely helps having a second set of hands though.

 

[MattPersman]

The snap on is a great set I have that, the otc and some off shore one. I keep my snap on work and it's obviously the only one I use after I bit the bullet and bought it

 

[warmpancakes]

It's that good, eh?

yes, Im in michigan were built on a salt mine, Ive used the BJP1 with a 3/4 impact with zero issues, stop in any shop and theres at least one of the snap on sets there, My Snappy guy sells 2-3 a month

 

[Ponchoguy]

I have an OTC USA made set, and yes, it's very handy.

 

[kythri]

Astro Pneumatic!

 

[Ponchoguy]

Astro Pneumatic!

I think you were a member of the Craftsman board too

 

[kythri]

I think you were a member of the Craftsman board too

At one point, yeah.

AP makes good stuff, and their ball joint kits work fantastic.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I've had zero problems with my OTC. You can usually do it/set it up by yourself. I personally don't use an impact on mine. I find hand tools don't jostle the press around, misalign things, and fit a lot better in tight places.

 

[JDon99]

Does the BJP1 kit cover most vehicles?

 

[warmpancakes]

Does the BJP1 kit cover most vehicles?

domestics yes, Hondas need special adaptors

 

[Skin]

Does the BJP1 kit cover most vehicles?

There are 3 or 4 add-on kits out now in addition to what comes in the BJP1 kit. You'll have similar coverage for hundreds less with the OTC master kit. The Snap-On C-Frame is impressive but the OTC will work perfectly fine also. Its been the golden standard for decades and is back to USA made as well which is a plus. just make sure to keep the threads greased.

 

[Flivver250]

Snap-On BJP1 is the absolute best hands down.

 

[warmpancakes]

There are 3 or 4 add-on kits out now in addition to what comes in the BJP1 kit. You'll have similar coverage for hundreds less with the OTC master kit. The Snap-On C-Frame is impressive but the OTC will work perfectly fine also. Its been the golden standard for decades and is back to USA made as well which is a plus. just make sure to keep the threads greased.

Snap on off the shelf covers twice what the OTC does

 

[kythri]

Snap on off the shelf covers twice what the OTC does

Which OTC model are you comparing this to?

The Snap-On BJP1 is $695 and has 22 pieces.

The OTC 6559 is $693 on Amazon, and has 70 pieces. Seems like a significantly more comprehensive kit.

 

[Coach James]

What company makes the Snap On press?

Coach

 

[Skin]

Snap on off the shelf covers twice what the OTC does

No, not the master kit OTC offers. The OTC kit actually does more.

 

[devoncoolman]

Which OTC model are you comparing this to?

The Snap-On BJP1 is $695 and has 22 pieces.

The OTC 6559 is $693 on Amazon, and has 70 pieces. Seems like a significantly more comprehensive kit.

The difference is the adapters on the bjp1 snap-on have extenders and can be used on both sides if the press. The otc has specific adapters for each end of the press as well as multiple different lengths and what not. The otc is a very capable tool but you need 3x the adapters with the otc to do what the snap-on will do right out of the box with out the add on adapters.

I personally own both. Both are great tools and my otc master kit served me well for many years. But it just falls short on the bigger trucks. Thats why i bought the bjp1 from snap-on. It just out performs the otc by leaps and bounds.

 

[rtole]

The difference is the adapters on the bjp1 snap-on have extenders and can be used on both sides if the press. The otc has specific adapters for each end of the press as well as multiple different lengths and what not. The otc is a very capable tool but you need 3x the adapters with the otc to do what the snap-on will do right out of the box with out the add on adapters.

I personally own both. Both are great tools and my otc master kit served me well for many years. But it just falls short on the bigger trucks. Thats why i bought the bjp1 from snap-on. It just out performs the otc by leaps and bounds.

This.
I have used both. I own the snap on. While the snap on is by far better.......I could have bought an astro pneumatic kit with a master add on set, and saved hundreds. I will never sell the bjp1.........but I consider it more of a luxury item, the price difference is too much to justify it.......but it sure is nice!
The snap on with its reversibility has saved me a few times, still not enough to make it "worth it" but it is really nice. I like not needing 7 hands to hold everything in place while setting up. It also kicks the **** out of doing u-joints.

 

[Nanashi]

Iv been using the snap on for over 2 years now and have had zero issues with it. Its taken every ball joint and u joint apart that iv used it on. Someone mentioned earlier about the dodge 4x4. I just did four ball joints on one of those last week and one of them was so stubborn I busted out the 1" impact to use on the snap on unit. It creamed out of there lol. One thing I want to say about the snap on set is that I have beet the snot of of it and impacted on it to no end on occasions to get a ball joint to brake loose and the threads are still solid as if they where new. Oddly I cant recall the last time I even greased them.

Also I often wondered why the OTC set had so many more pieces. Some one posted and made some sense of it though stating how well the snap on pieces work together to form the different needs. Get what you want for what you need but in the end if your a pro the snap on setup probably cant be beat. Its seriously heavy duty and I sometimes need a second pair of hands to hold everything in place.

 

[warmpancakes]

Which OTC model are you comparing this to?

The Snap-On BJP1 is $695 and has 22 pieces.

The OTC 6559 is $693 on Amazon, and has 70 pieces. Seems like a significantly more comprehensive kit.

the OTC takes up twice the drawer space as the snap on,
Its not a one handed tool,
It cannot be used in a bench vise to pop U joints.
Snap on comes with a book that tells you what Pieces to use on what car, OTC lets you guess

Grab a used snap on for 400 On ebay and never look back the first dodge ram truck where you need to do 4 ball Joints and front axle U joints it will pay for its self.

If you do get a used one spend the 12.00 and replace the C-clips, Grease the snot out of it and go make money.

 

[MattPersman]

Yes it the snapon is really that good for a pro if you are doing truck ball joints and u joints as part of your duties


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ADSR]

the OTC takes up twice the drawer space as the snap on,
Its not a one handed tool,
It cannot be used in a bench vise to pop U joints.
Snap on comes with a book that tells you what Pieces to use on what car, OTC lets you guess

Grab a used snap on for 400 On ebay and never look back the first dodge ram truck where you need to do 4 ball Joints and front axle U joints it will pay for its self.

If you do get a used one spend the 12.00 and replace the C-clips, Grease the snot out of it and go make money.

That's pretty awesome, IMO.

 

[todd_fuller]

That's pretty awesome, IMO.

I really like how the adapters clip into the press and themselves. Brilliant.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

domestics yes, Hondas need special adaptors

Gotta do some lowers on the front of my 97 Accord...been seeing the Honda OTC add on kit, didn't know why. This is the first time I do em on it...200k miles so god willing I'll never need to do it again, but figured I'd do some google-fu here on which tool to get.

What makes the Honda Joints so special as to require an add on kit?

 

[crbnfbr]

Gotta do some lowers on the front of my 97 Accord...been seeing the Honda OTC add on kit, didn't know why. This is the first time I do em on it...200k miles so god willing I'll never need to do it again, but figured I'd do some google-fu here on which tool to get.

What makes the Honda Joints so special as to require an add on kit?

The way the ball joint goes in the knuckle. You can't just use a standard cup you have to use one that's notched out to fit inside the knuckle.

This link shows how the cups are notched to fit the different Honda/Acura knuckles.
http://www.otctools.com/sites/default/files/555193_e.pdf

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The way the ball joint goes in the knuckle. You can't just use a standard cup you have to use one that's notched out to fit inside the knuckle.

This link shows how the cups are notched to fit the different Honda/Acura knuckles.
http://www.otctools.com/sites/default/files/555193_e.pdf

Ran out to the shop and took a look...makes all the sense in the world. So I grabbed some steel and got to work...made myself a set of removal cups, got the BJ's right out of there with no issue using a bench vice...

Now I'm just debating...Get the HF Press today, or order the OTC on Amazon.. I'd much prefer the Snappy, but even just the C-Press is more then I'd like to spend right now..

 

[ADSR]

Ran out to the shop and took a look...makes all the sense in the world. So I grabbed some steel and got to work...made myself a set of removal cups, got the BJ's right out of there with no issue using a bench vice...

Now I'm just debating...Get the HF Press today, or order the OTC on Amazon.. I'd much prefer the Snappy, but even just the C-Press is more then I'd like to spend right now..

I just added this astro kit to a cheap C-press. Be in to the whole set up for well under 200 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SGPO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Spudland_Dave]

SOOOO, of course I always need this stuff when I don't have it (which is why I just buy tools all the time).. just gonna do the loaner tools from OReilly & Advance...really had no idea about them, but still doesn't change the fact I need a BJ service set...I'll get my job done now with loaners, but I'll be on the lookout for an OTC/Snappy Set.

I just always thought you had to buy the parts there to borrow their tools..turns out that's not true....

 

[crbnfbr]

Napa makes a Honda remover/installer kit that goes on an air hammer that's pretty cool, and it looks like it's a lot easier than the old press method. Either way is better than the method that I used on my ball joint the first time. I threw the whole knuckle in the oven on low for a bit and beat the ball joint out with a big *** hammer, not recommended.

Oh, Tooltopia.com has the same Napa set for $80.99 I found after doing a bit more searching.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Air-Hammer-Ball-Joint-Installer-Separator-Kits/_/R-SER68600A_0142381669

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=89KiZz5F_-A