HF 3-in1 Ball Joint Press

[gunner3773]

Anyone use one of these HF ball joint presses with OTC adapter cups? I was wondering if the press will work with OTC ball joint cups.

 

[scott37300]

My guess would be yes. The press and adaptors look very similar. Probably really close in size.

Just got an email yesterday from HF with a coupon for the ball joint press for 32 bucks.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

gunner,

Buy the OTC press and then get the HF cups. The cups are great, the press is junk if you need to use it very much. The OTC press is not that expensive and will work fine with the HF cups.

 

[scott37300]

gunner,

Buy the OTC press and then get the HF cups. The cups are great, the press is junk if you need to use it very much. The OTC press is not that expensive and will work fine with the HF cups.

I've read mostly good reviews on the HF press. Did you have one that broke?

 

[thecj3man]

I've read mostly good reviews on the HF press. Did you have one that broke?

My HF press worked well on universal joints but I ended up ruining it trying to get the ball joints out of a Dana 60. I borrowed a friends OTC puller to finish the job, then promptly went and purchased one for myself. The HF press spread apart instead of forcing the ball joint out. The HF cups are very similar.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I've read mostly good reviews on the HF press. Did you have one that broke?

Two on the same ball joint..... I bought an OTC and never looked back. The master adapter set from HF has worked out OK though. If you buy the kit shown and the extra adapter kit and add the OTC press, you will have a nice rig. The HF press is still sitting in the bottom of another tool chest and is used as a "loaner" in case anyone wants to use one.

I will say that car was from up north and a poster child for a rust bucket. In hind sight I should have used a wire brush and blue tip wrench on the stupid thing.

 

[scott37300]

Two on the same ball joint..... I bought an OTC and never looked back. The master adapter set from HF has worked out OK though. If you buy the kit shown and the extra adapter kit and add the OTC press, you will have a nice rig. The HF press is still sitting in the bottom of another tool chest and is used as a "loaner" in case anyone wants to use one.

I will say that car was from up north and a poster child for a rust bucket. In hind sight I should have used a wire brush and blue tip wrench on the stupid thing.

That's good to know because I have read mostly good reviews on it and it was on my list of things to get. Guess I will save for the OTC and not risk the HF.

 

[mrholeshot]

My son bought the HF ball joint press to do the ball joints in an S10. It broke into halfway down the C. I've been using my OTC for at leat 12 years and it has done a lot of ball joints. I bought the add on set of cups and they have done well. They are pretty basic cold rolled steel so not much to go wrong. The U joint press is very cheap cast steel. It's a real POS. HF did give him a brand new set when he took just the press itself back. He gave me the extra cups and adapters that came in the first kit.

 

[anodyne33]

My HF did fine for several u-joints and 3/4 set of ball joints until I spaced on getting the last one back in and tried to press the wrong way. It didn't break, but it did spread the C to a point where it'd have been just about unusable.

 

[tw33k2514]

The one problem I have seen twice now with the HF ball Joint press is the damn threaded rod gets messed up. Yes, even with proper use and lubrication. I had one strip on me in a friends driveway ( he bought the tool ). And once in steering & suspension class. because the school got tired of students messing up the OTC presses......

Anyway, buy the OTC, seriously.

 

[anodyne33]

Oh, and for those of you who have bent or broken the HF press using it correctly, did you use penetrant before you started and did you tap on your Cs with a BFH as you were loading the press?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Oh, and for those of you who have bent or broken the HF press using it correctly, did you use penetrant before you started and did you tap on your Cs with a BFH as you were loading the press?

Yes, that's why I said I should have used a wire wheel and a torch on it although the OTC press popped it out just fine. Pre-loaded a good bit, hit with a 5 lb hammer and it popped out. The HF press press gave up at the "pre-loaded a good bit" part and spread open. The second started to do the same thing. That's when I hunted the tool truck down and bought an OTC press.

 

[sberry]

The OTC isn't terribly expensive, as I recall about 100$ from flier at auto parts store. I have a HF one, haven't used it much so cant tell, figured it wasn't much to lose either, if it gives up will get the better one.

 

[Hiball]

Ill admit HF (Taiwan in General) Tools have come along way, but My tight Azz Brother had to Replaces some Ball Joints, Tie Rod Ends on His Chevy along with swap out a leaking steering Box. I decided to go over and Help him with his Chore because it was Winter Time and the Shop didnt have any Heat. He Whips out his brand New HF Ball Joint Press along with a Pitman Arm Puller and We Start Dismantling. Needless to Say..... I ended up going up to Orielly's and Renting the Tools because Neither of them would do the Job.

The Pitman Arm puller, Which i thought was working was actually straightening and C just bent to the point where it would not stay in contact with Press Cone. When i got back from Oriellys with the Rental Unit i was leary that it wouldnt work and i would be out my Deposit. It worked flawlessly and you could tell it had been used many times. I ended up buying one of the Full Otc sets off Amazon for like $140 and have used it twice and loaned it to a Friend Once. To be Fair i think Everyone will agree that sometimes HF changes suppliers and it doesnt always work out for the best, This was aprox 2-3 years ago so maybe the New ones are Better.