Best ball joint service kit
- Thread starter giacomo.m
- Start date
3 Gun Shooter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2015
- Messages
- 880
The OTC set is ok, but Snap On added the extra details like able to lock the adaptors on the press. If it is for personal use and have an extra set on hands the OTC set is OK. Fulltime doing suspension in a shop, set up to Snap On.
BJP1, adapters lock in place and the C-Frame press is probably the best you'll ever find but spending ~$500 (more if you need the adapter update kit) to do a vehicle or two really doesn't make sense. The OTC kits are perfectly serviceable and are also nice quality. Their kit/press has been the go-to for most shops for decades.
Last edited:
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have an OTC master truck set and I have been pleased with it so far. I have had it for about 8 years now.
Mike.
Mike.
platform389
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2011
- Messages
- 107
Except the OTC is prone to bending. Last one I borrowed from Auto Zone had led a hard life. The ram was so far off I had to use a deep well impact socket and large bolt to push with. The cups would not center properly because of the induced offset from the bending.
blacknblue
Well-known member
For ball joints on my Jeep the OTC 7894 was a godsend. Highly recommend.
anyone have any experience with the astro pneumatic 7897?
http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneumatic-7897.aspx
I'm about to start the redoing the front end on my 4x4 s10 blazer, was considering this option
http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneumatic-7897.aspx
I'm about to start the redoing the front end on my 4x4 s10 blazer, was considering this option
mcmtech
Well-known member
I've got the Astro set at home, works fine for an occasional one at home, it's basically an Otc clone, use it properly and it should last quite a while and not bend. At work the snap on one is amazing but like others said, expensive and overkill for occasional home use.
Astro_Pneumatic_Tools
Well-known member
OP, if you can bend our C clamp, I'll buy you a beer.
Not saying it can't be done, just that you'll need a beer by the time you're done trying.
_________
Chris
Product Manager
Not saying it can't be done, just that you'll need a beer by the time you're done trying.
_________
Chris
Product Manager
My shop has the OTC set. I absolutely hate it. It's been neglected and you have to guess on your arrangement for certain vehicles. The bjp1 is what I learned on and has instructions on exactly what is used for what. It also has a ujoint setup, which you'll want eventually on that Jeep.
(First post, couldn't find community section)
(First post, couldn't find community section)
owenst7
Well-known member
I used a HF press kit for years. Made many times over what I paid for it. I finally broke it using an impact on it because I was struggling with the breaker bar (I even said, "This is probably dumb," first Haha).
I bought a used BJP1 for $400 on eBay after that. Strength aside, the BJP1 just works a hell of a lot better due to the adapters. Also, the standard presses are not wide enough to do 1480 ujoints, whereas the BJP1 is a few inches wider than it would need to be.
Personally, since you can rent them for free from any parts store, I'd probably just rent one until I saved enough for the BJP1 if I were to do it all over again. If you are far away from a parts store, though, I could see buying an Astro or OTC or something. The HF isn't covered by their warranty, so I wouldn't recommend them. I think they're like $70 normally, and I'd rather just pay $100-$150 for something with a warranty.
I bought a used BJP1 for $400 on eBay after that. Strength aside, the BJP1 just works a hell of a lot better due to the adapters. Also, the standard presses are not wide enough to do 1480 ujoints, whereas the BJP1 is a few inches wider than it would need to be.
Personally, since you can rent them for free from any parts store, I'd probably just rent one until I saved enough for the BJP1 if I were to do it all over again. If you are far away from a parts store, though, I could see buying an Astro or OTC or something. The HF isn't covered by their warranty, so I wouldn't recommend them. I think they're like $70 normally, and I'd rather just pay $100-$150 for something with a warranty.
bsosborne1
Member
I've had the HF for years also. I've used on countless balljoints, chevy torsion keys, Bearings, and I even used it to press out the main C frame pins on my Cat d3. Its a gem for sure. I would not hesitate to buy another
You can bend or break anything with enough abuse, doesn't mean the tool is bad. Most guys simply destroy the threads on either unit (they should always be lubricated).
JJThrasher
Well-known member
I do a lot of truck front end work and I use the OTC 6530. Seems to handle most things pretty well. The threads are about worn out, but when you consider the cash the tool has made me I think I'll buy a replacement $100 press.
anndel
Well-known member
BTW, the Snap-On BJP1 is $715 online.
speed bump
Well-known member
Between my dad and I we have probably done 20 vehicles worth of ball joints with the harbor freight press. I managed bend it the second time I did super duty ball joints.
If I only had long term plans for small cars then a cheap press is perfectly adequate. Personally if I run across a snap on bj press for under $400 I will be buying it due to the heavy duty frame and locking adapters.
Finally the threads last a lot longer if you put some anti seize on them periodically.
If I only had long term plans for small cars then a cheap press is perfectly adequate. Personally if I run across a snap on bj press for under $400 I will be buying it due to the heavy duty frame and locking adapters.
Finally the threads last a lot longer if you put some anti seize on them periodically.
Hi owenst7
what is brand " HF press " ?
but having to work at 80% of the Jeep is not better 8031 otc that has C-frame throat opening larger than bjp1?
thank you
Giacomo
MattPersman
Well-known member
I have both the snap on replaced the OTC in daily use and I haven't thought of using the OTC since. Yes the snap on is that much better, from the adapters, to the feel, it's more of a redesign to be purposely better product that you don't understand till you use it
Can I do most things with the OTC still, sure I could but the snap on is my choice
Can I do most things with the OTC still, sure I could but the snap on is my choice
MarineScott
Well-known member
Double check yourself, I'm pretty sure your ball joints are riveted in and if replaced, bolted
I have, they have already been replaced once before so no rivets to deal with this go round.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
owenst7
Well-known member
Huh?
I have the SO press. I have tortured that poor thing many times and it's still going strong. I don't believe it was designed to push out pins and bushings on heavy equipment but I've done it anyway. If there's a better press out there I've never seen it. Buy it once and it'll last 2 lifetimes.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Griff93
Well-known member
I have bent or broken the frame on three ball joint presses. One OTC, one Astro, and broke the Harbor freight in half. I bought the snap on and never looked back. The only thing I was doing with the others was trying to remove ball joints. I didn't do anything stupid like leave the snap ring on. They were just really stuck. I had even heated them with a torch and let them soak with PB. I've had the SO one for years now and zero issues.
Pretty sure the answer he's looking for is 'Harbor Freight'.
kythri
Well-known member
I've had the Astro Pneumatic press since 2009, and it's worked flawlessly.
Granted, I don't use it daily, but it's a good piece of equipment - and I've only ever needed the two hands...
Granted, I don't use it daily, but it's a good piece of equipment - and I've only ever needed the two hands...
Astro_Pneumatic_Tools
Well-known member
How long ago was this?
We've made the C-clamp beefier twice since its inception, keeping up with the torque levels of modern impacts is always an ongoing thing.
______________
Chris
Product Manager
owenst7
Well-known member
How long ago was this?
We've made the C-clamp beefier twice since its inception, keeping up with the torque levels of modern impacts is always an ongoing thing.
______________
Chris
Product Manager
Do you have a dimensional drawing of your current model?
I've been pretty much under the assumption that there are only 2 or 3 shapes/dimensions out there based on the ones I've had contact with. Seems like they are all dimensional copies of the OTC (which I think has a standard and a slightly bigger unit for medium duty trucks) from all the ones I've used.
The height of the "vertical" section of the I-section is what provides the strength significantly more so than the metallurgy. If the Astro unit compares to the BJP1 in material height at the 90°s and the center where it counts (that's where they always bend), I'd probably consider buying another press to carry to races/on the trail.
What I would really like to see is someone make one with ACME thread and a grease zerk. I keep telling myself I'm going to build one that way to carry in the buggy...but several years after building a press brake, that has still yet to happen lol.
Last edited:
Astro_Pneumatic_Tools
Well-known member
You're right that the wall height of the I is one of the main determinants, also wall thickness.
The height is 1.5", the wall thickness is up to .710".
7.5lbs in weight and 8.8" long. It changed to a different forged alloy as well with our last improvement couple years ago.
__________
Chris
Product Manager