Ball Joint press kit

[zippster]

Hello! I have been a long time looker but I do not post much so bear with me.

Having 3 teenage drivers now, I have found it a necessity (Instead of a hobby) to maintain my family vehicles. That said, I have the need to purchase, rather than rent, a ball joint removal/installation kit. I hear the Snap on and OTC presses are recommended. (I cannot afford the Snap on)

We only drive Korean and Japanese cars so I want to make sure I would have all the adapters I needed.

Any suggestions?

 

[bcschief]

Why you can rent one with all the adapters use it and return it for a full refund at Autozone. That being said find an older OTC or Snap On, Matco or Mac that's in good shape (not spread or forcing screw messed up ) and buy the adapter kit from Harbor Freight.

Brian

 

[rijndael]

I have the Astro 7865. For occasional use, it's doing just fine. I'd rather own it for $70 than rent it.

 

[Wrench97]

For personal use I agree the Astro kit works well, the older OTC kits are lacking some of the smaller adapters for the Asian cars and larger ones for trucks(Ford).

 

[honcho]

I used the "free" rental ball joint sets from Advance Auto for my F250 and I purchased the harbor freight kit for use on a Honda. I gave the HF kit to my brother. I'd second the advice on just using the free rentals from Advance or Autozone.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Check your cars first. A lot of Japanese and Korean cars use bolt-in ball joints or control arm replacement. You may not even need one.

I own and use the BJP-1. Yes, it was expensive, but I got a decent deal on it and it has paid for itself between my Ram and my Dad's Ranger in the past year. Overkill for a DIY'r really though.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Honestly, I would just use an air hammer if the ball joint is going to be replaced anyways. As others have mentioned, if you really want to buy one rather than rent, there's the Astro Pneumatic one and Harbor Freight has an adapter kit. The OTC ball joint press is regarded as overrated and overpriced by many on this forum.

 

[kctyphoon]

I think i have the HF model or the OTC..

 

[Djosbun]

I own both Astro kits (which equal the master kit, if I recall) and have used probably every single piece in each case at least 5-6 times, with some pieces seeing much more use. I have done Civics/Honda CRVs up to an F-350 V10 dually and have never had an issue with the Astro kit. About 8 years ago I emailed them with a pre-purchase question about their rivnut kit and they actually replied moments later, from an American office with a direct dial telephone number. This type of service is important to me.

It offers unparalleled value, in my opinion.

-- Dave

 

[bcschief]

About 5 years ago I worked in a repair shop that bought a brand new Snap On ball joint press within 3 months the forcing screw was all f up my 30 + year old one still looks good. I think modern quality *****. I don't like the Harbor Freight press but the adapters should be ok ( no moving parts )

 

[Skin]

About 5 years ago I worked in a repair shop that bought a brand new Snap On ball joint press within 3 months the forcing screw was all f up my 30 + year old one still looks good. I think modern quality *****.

You can destroy every forcing screw on a press or puller by never greasing it. Snap-on even gives you a zerk port in the frame but I bet that's news to you.

 

[Banshee365]

You'd be surprised on being able to afford the Snap-On press. Look on FB marketplace and craigslist. I see them all the time for 400-500. Totally worth it. The press is an absolute tank.

 

[bczygan]

Astro

 

[vssjim]

I have the OTC master kit and the Astro master kit and also the Astro Goliath large opening C clamp and the short and extra long forcing screw. I use the Astro kit the mostly and it works very well and I would buy them again. I use Lucas oil extreme pressure grease on all forcing screws and you can also use Extreme pressure lube number 3 or the oil version made by CMD. and have never torn up the threads on any of these tools. Lubing the screws also will make sure that all the force is transferred to the press operation not in to friction on the threads.

 

[bcschief]

You can destroy every forcing screw on a press or puller by never greasing it. Snap-on even gives you a zerk port in the frame but I bet that's news to you.

Not to me it isn't remember I had my own OTC press. I have an old saying " You can break ball bearings in a sandbox with a rubber mallet"

 

[unslow1]

I know of a few guys that have the HF adapter kit and then a name brand ball joint kit.

 

[alexb2000]

I have the OTC frame and Astro master kit. If I were starting over I would get the Astro Goliath and master adapter kit and be done with it, because the extra clearance of the Goliath frame would be VERY useful.

We are talking about $150 for the Goliath and master adapter kit so it will more than pay for itself on the first job.

 

[Den69rs96]

I have the 27 piece All-trade kit. It’s the same one Advance auto loans out. I wanted my own, so I bought it online. If I were buying one now, I would check out Astro. I have their brake drum pulled and bearing press kits. They are well made.

 

[kctyphoon]

Yea the screws are what people always complain about, and I think that's pretty much across the board of the affordable brands.. make sure there's some type of lube on it, (I think I just used anti seize the last time) and avoid using an impact if possible.

I had a rental one that I used for my f350 dually when I did the ball joints and all the other bushings up front. That one was an OTC. I rented another to do the rear leaf spring bushings (OTC also) and I tried EVERYTHING on that one, even the M18 high torque impact, and could not get those things to come out. Wound up burning the rubber out and cutting, then peeling the sleeves out. That OTC took everything I threw at it though.

I once looked into getting an upgraded screw for whatever I have, and the cost of that alone from a hardware specific site was not worth buying.

As others have said u can get basically anything from AutoZone as a free rental. Without even buying the parts from them I believe.

Now that I think of it, it might be the OTC hub puller kit I have, and the Pittsburgh ball joint kit.. I think they rebanded them Maddox now, maybe upgraded them?

 

[Rmracing]

Snap on is pricey but it’s worth it. Haven’t had any issues with mine and it’s used in a shop. I’ve seen where the otc wouldn’t work due to not being big enough opening where the snapon worked fine . The snap on is also made to easily be mounted in a vise.

 

[Odd-job]

I have the OTC frame and Astro master kit. If I were starting over I would get the Astro Goliath and master adapter kit and be done with it, because the extra clearance of the Goliath frame would be VERY useful.

We are talking about $150 for the Goliath and master adapter kit so it will more than pay for itself on the first job.

Wish I had done this the first go around. Got the standard Astro and then got a Goliath for “next time” sitting in my garage. There were bushings that I just could not get enough stack height without removing everything and putting on the press. This being said the Goliath is huge and probably hard to maneuver since I am weak so maybe having the standard laying around is not a bad thing.

 

[bwringer]

Check your cars first. A lot of Japanese and Korean cars use bolt-in ball joints or control arm replacement. You may not even need one.

Honestly, I would just use an air hammer if the ball joint is going to be replaced anyways..

Yep. On most Asian vehicles this isn't really a thing you have much use for.

Also, control arms complete with bushings and ball joints are often an option and save one hell of a lot of time and effort.

 

[sberry]

My HF worked well until someone used it in the dark and rammed it up with a heavy air gun. For those little cars most of them should work fine.
I will agree the new replacement assemblies are a thing of beauty. No more spring r&r on struts with 3 different new parts needed, get new springs, all about the same price or less than parts. Same for most control arms, so much less fuggin around even for guys with the tools and know how if they are in a hurry.

 

[sberry]

I have done quite a few things with that press, other uses, don't recall but every once in a while its a saver and it could be worth it for a diy type to have an economical one. A thing about modern stores is today you might not need to prep for every possible conceivable chore, can simply run and buy if its relatively convenient, can buy a lot of stuff as needed. Can buy spec tools from auto parts, some of that works and not so bad pricing. Some of it I used once etc and while its nice to have a NorthStar water pump tool chances of using it again being slim to none and doesn't matter if they make a better one or not.

 

[sberry]

A trade guy working in suspension and drive line may need something better but lots of them seem to git er dun with what ever it is they are using. My Bud had small shop, the otc made a career and he made up a couple adapters he didn't have as he went. Might have even bought an HF kit on top of it, I don't recall.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I had the HF one and bent it the first time I used it on a 1/2 ton truck. I now have the Astro kit and the Goliath. I prefer to use the standard press if I can but the Goliath is handy to have on hand.

I did see a Snap-on ball joint press on Facebook for $375 and was awfully tempted to buy it.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I had the HF one and bent it the first time I used it on a 1/2 ton truck. I now have the Astro kit and the Goliath. I prefer to use the standard press if I can but the Goliath is handy to have on hand.

I did see a Snap-on ball joint press on Facebook for $375 and was awfully tempted to buy it.

I was surprised just how big the lower ball joint was on my F150.

I have the OTC from when they were made in China and it's taken a good beating. I've done F350 Dana 50's and 60's, some Jeeps, and a 2500 Dodge. I don't work on cars, but it's gotten the job done for everything I've asked of it.

 

[Wrench97]

I have done quite a few things with that press, other uses, don't recall but every once in a while its a saver and it could be worth it for a diy type to have an economical one. A thing about modern stores is today you might not need to prep for every possible conceivable chore, can simply run and buy if its relatively convenient, can buy a lot of stuff as needed. Can buy spec tools from auto parts, some of that works and not so bad pricing. Some of it I used once etc and while its nice to have a NorthStar water pump tool chances of using it again being slim to none and doesn't matter if they make a better one or not.

I use the OTC press on U joints a lot rather then beating them out............

 

[Kev442]

I just used my Astro kit for the first time this week and was pleased with it, seems plenty beefy. It's ability to do u joints looks promising too.

 

[zippster]

Astro it is!