Astro vs OTC ball joint press

[Mgdoug3]

I currently have Harbor Freight ball joint service kit and an adapter kit I bought off Amazon that I don't remember the name. I have used the Harbor Freight model on 3 sets of ball joints and the press is already bent. I ordered the large frame Astro clamp the other day since it's supposedly better for Ram trucks with AAM axles.

I have searched this topic but I have also noticed Astro seems to update the press every so often. I'm trying to decide between the Astro which I can get for ~$65 or just the OTC press for $95 since I already have the adapters. I do like that the OTC is made in the USA.

I'll only use the tool a few times during the year, but I want a press that won't bend when trying to remove ball joints. I don't believe I'm hard on the HF since I bent it with a 15" ratchet and use heat if necessary. I don't hammer on it with an impact. I don't mind spending the extra money for the OTC if it's worth it. If you had to buy a clamp that wasn't Snap on, which would it be?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

OTC for an extra $30.

 

[Wamsutta]

One of them comes with an included application manual that tells you the part numbers of every single piece you need that corresponds to the make and model of the car you're working on. I think it's the OTC. If you ever lose one of the pieces, you got the part number right there in the manual by just looking under the heading for your car.

 

[danielbuck]

I've abused my OTC press, like using an impact gun on the screw. Still holds up fine.

Make sure the threads are greased

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I currently have Harbor Freight ball joint service kit and an adapter kit I bought off Amazon that I don't remember the name. I have used the Harbor Freight model on 3 sets of ball joints and the press is already bent. I ordered the large frame Astro clamp the other day since it's supposedly better for Ram trucks with AAM axles.

I have searched this topic but I have also noticed Astro seems to update the press every so often. I'm trying to decide between the Astro which I can get for ~$65 or just the OTC press for $95 since I already have the adapters. I do like that the OTC is made in the USA.

I'll only use the tool a few times during the year, but I want a press that won't bend when trying to remove ball joints. I don't believe I'm hard on the HF since I bent it with a 15" ratchet and use heat if necessary. I don't hammer on it with an impact. I don't mind spending the extra money for the OTC if it's worth it. If you had to buy a clamp that wasn't Snap on, which would it be?

I've bent 1 HF, 1 OTC, 1 ATD, and 1 OTC with bad threads; currently with astro. After OTC burned me on a warranty on 1 C-Frame, I've basically sworn off the company unless I have to buy from them. Astro has been holding up well so far, I have their cup-adapter set too, which has done well. I assume impact gun use is standard practice, Astro has claimed they beef the press up from time to time to deal with evolving impact gun output.




My OTC was "made in the USA" too, except it said that no-where on the box or the press. Then when it bent, OTC said "That's not an OTC press". Well I bought it from the local tool distributor, who is an authorized re-seller, and it came in an OTC box. Claimed a co-workers was fake too when his bent! Purchased from the same tool dealer, in person, OTC labels, instructions, etc. They cried about warrantying cracked press adapters (taurus short adapter), "Too much force". OTC is a garbage company, IMO, I go out of my way to avoid them whenever possible. If I do have to buy from them (Hub grappler puller arm for instance), I assume zero warranty and zero support.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

One of them comes with an included application manual that tells you the part numbers of every single piece you need that corresponds to the make and model of the car you're working on. I think it's the OTC. If you ever lose one of the pieces, you got the part number right there in the manual by just looking under the heading for your car.

Those manuals are garbage, covered maybe 30 models between 1990 and 2006 or something like that. Figuring out the pieces are easy enough; search for press adapters on amazon. At the end of the day, they are consumables.

 

[Tallpilot]

I’m not impressed with OTC warranty. I think they have gone downhill since Bosch bought them. Sometimes you have no choice like with the hub grappler. But in the case of ball joint presses if you don’t want to spend BJP1 money, Astro is the hands down winner.

 

[shockwave]

Be careful only a few years ago they started making the otc back in the USA some nos might still be of Asian make

But I would seriously consider the snap on ball joint press less adapters covers most vehicles and will make it easier to set up with snap rings where otc you need 4 hands with adapters

 

[Road Wrench]

I went with the Astro recently since the OTC had tweaked enough over the years that it bugged me. I've only used it to press a ujoint so far, but it seems very good for half the price of OTC. Everything I have bought from Astro is holding up well.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I can't find warranty information on the Astro. Does anyone know what kind of warranty it has, 90 days, years, lifetime, etc?

 

[Road Wrench]

Here is the warranty info.

 

[Skin]

I can't find warranty information on the Astro. Does anyone know what kind of warranty it has, 90 days, years, lifetime, etc?

1 year though I suspect Chris would warranty a frame for a member if they manage to bend it. I consider the cups and forcing screws consumable. As stated keep the threads greased and it will last a very very long time. You can use an impact..most people do.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

If you're not using an impact with these tools you're spending too much time and effort. Based on our testing, unless another brand has made something new in the last year, our latest press (has a "C" forged into the side) should be the toughest of its design available on the market.

We continually monitor and periodically update material or drawings of our press because it saves us money as we make this for several brands with lifetime warranty.

 

[sberry]

We bent a HF one. The guy was using it in the dark, didnt have it installed cordectly and drove it hard with the air gun. Wasnt really the fault of the press.

 

[S/RConcepts]

I have the Astro kit myself, haven't had a single issue with it. If you can manage to bend the clamp on it, you've got much bigger problems to deal with!

 

[Mr_B]

Astro , good product good company and good price .
Just be sure get the latest revision model .

 

[Mgdoug3]

If I bought the Astro kit off Amazon, how could I tell I'm buying the latest model?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I believe OTC is now owned by Bosch.

 

[malibu101]

If I bought the Astro kit off Amazon, how could I tell I'm buying the latest model?

I'd go by the info in post #13

 

[Road Wrench]

Out of curiosity I had to check the one I have, it has the "C" on it.

 

[bobcatdan]

Not sure what the hell you guys are doing to bend a ball joint press. I use mine for a lot of stuff tougher than ball joints and I have only had the threads go to hell. OTC gladly gave me a new one.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

If I bought the Astro kit off Amazon, how could I tell I'm buying the latest model?

It's been the new model for just over a year. We sell so many of these, a couple months in and everything sold anywhere Astro was the new model.

 

[Mr_B]

If I bought the Astro kit off Amazon, how could I tell I'm buying the latest model?

latest press has "C" forged into the side as shown in image from road wrench
Don't rely on amazon images as they often don't update images to fully represent stock item .

 

[Mgdoug3]

Thanks. When I looked it up on Amazon, the seller was Astro so I would assume it's the newest version.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I decided to go with the Astro kit. The reviews seem promising and having an active representative on GJ made it seem like a smart decision. Thanks for all the help. My uncle just called me about doing ball joints on his Ram 3500. Maybe I'll be able to try the kit on them.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Sometimes you have no choice like with the hub grappler.

Until people find about about the 78830 Heavy Duty Hub Drum and Rotor Puller Kit coming out in a couple months, but that's top secret for now

 

[Tallpilot]

Until people find about about the 78830 Heavy Duty Hub Drum and Rotor Puller Kit coming out in a couple months, but that's top secret for now

It is really nice to see someone actually competing in this space. For too long a quasi oligopoly allowed pricing to get out of hand with no real innovation.

You should be proud of what you are doing.

 

[scubadoober]

Until people find about about the 78830 Heavy Duty Hub Drum and Rotor Puller Kit coming out in a couple months, but that's top secret for now

Check the bottom of page seven.

http://www.astrotools.com/pub/media/Astro-New-Product-Catalog.pdf

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Check the bottom of page seven.

http://www.astrotools.com/pub/media/Astro-New-Product-Catalog.pdf

Alright, who do you work for?

 

[428PI]

Well, isn't the OTC one forged aluminum and the others either forged (Astro?) or cast iron(Harbor Freight)? I put a ball joint the other week on my son's 93 Mark Viii and I ended up hammering up on the ball joint (by hitting one of the tool cups with a 5 lb hammer) to get it to go. The cheap ball joint we used just wasn't made right. Others I haven't had any such problems.

 

[Mr_B]

I made my own to compliment my hub kit but it not subtle, better than slide hammering as that bit barbaric on a tight hub .

Hope eric o got his already and tested it with a bit of big nasty action on a proper seized hub avoca style

What I like about astro is they seem make some extra design/ manufacture spec effort yet prices sensible and no bull .

 

[jdlong]

I too bent the Harbor Freight C press and galled the threads. Tossed it all for the Astro master kit last spring and I am very happy with it. Greased up, it
has survived impacting really well on nasty rust welded ball joints. The price is amazing. Less than a pair of Moog ball joints.

 

[snyder]

I've abused my OTC press, like using an impact gun on the screw. Still holds up fine.

Make sure the threads are greased

If using an impact on a ball joint press is abusive, how do you use it.?

 

[Tallpilot]

Hope eric o got his already and tested it with a bit of big nasty action on a proper seized hub avoca style

What I like about astro is they seem make some extra design/ manufacture spec effort yet prices sensible and no bull .

+1

 

[nmantas]

Until people find about about the 78830 Heavy Duty Hub Drum and Rotor Puller Kit coming out in a couple months, but that's top secret for now

Is that going to come with the strap so that when a rotor pops free it doesn't launch off?

 

[Steve_P]

The HF frame is cast iron and the mating threads were a terribly loose fit on the one I had - junk.
The OTC is forged steel and waaaaay nicer. And its made in the USA .

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Is that going to come with the strap so that when a rotor pops free it doesn't launch off?

Final design has a single retaining lip on the end of each arm so it can be used with a ratchet strap for that purpose, but in the effort to keep the price down doesn't come with one in case you own a ratchet strap already or don't wish to use one

 

[nmantas]

Final design has a single retaining lip on the end of each arm so it can be used with a ratchet strap for that purpose, but in the effort to keep the price down doesn't come with one in case you own a ratchet strap already or don't wish to use one

Great move, I think that is a win-win.....have attachment points (which OTC doesn't really have) but don't include the strap to keep the cost down (I only have like 20).

 

[anndel]

Looking forward to picking up the 78830 I have the OTC Hub Grappler and it works great but after removing the hub when it came to the wheel bearing, the forcing screw bent and then the cup crushed. I was using an impact wrench and nowhere in the manual it says not to do so. I warrantied it with OTC which took 5 months then they told me in an email and written note with the warranty replacement OTC suggests not using any impact wrench. I responded to their email that they need to state that in the manual.

 

[Mr_B]

^
Think you should also stated it not professional or even serious diy suitable if can't use an impact .
Sometimes I load it with impact then got introduce air hammer try get things moving, Pretty easy make these tools strong, most brands just lazy or penny pinching on material volume/spec, some of the forcing screws are low grade, minimal diameter when no issue jump up a size or grade, just ballache and costs fraction more so most don't bother .
Scabby warranty also annoying on more premium priced kits, I expect that on off brands but not a company like otc that happily selling to pro users and are quite aware most people going be using impacts :-/
If it not suitable for impacts it should be cast into the tool in large lettering .
Typical of modern retail selling border line minimal spec equipment with minimal details/usage descriptions then tell you what you can't do once you found out it poor grade the hard/expensive way .
They never skimp on the markup but they not shy skimp on the product spec or warranty good will .
OTC got a scabby reputation on warranty already in the pro field .