New Matco Ball Joint Press

[Skin]

Revealed at their expo. BJP18100, has snap in cups like Snap-on's BJP1.

 

[Stooge]

Interesting looking, but the description is a little convoluted and sounds like you have to buy another kit for the rest of the cups on top of the $730 price of the tool kit. $1100 is pretty steep to do ball joints, when the Snap on BJP1 will cover most things without having to get another kit.

"... while the vehicle is on the hoist when used with BJP18100C cup set"
https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BJP18100/BALL-JOINT-PRESS-WITH-CUP-ADAPTERS/

$430
https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BJP18100C/CUP-KIT-FOR-BJP18100-BALL-JOINT-PRESS/

 

[Ign]

Damn I can't decide if it's a good idea or not.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Definitely an interesting idea. Not sure if it would be more or less difficult to use than the old style. Doesn't matter...Matco trucks are like the Loch Ness Monster...Everyone's heard of them, some claim to have seen them, but the only proof of their existence is some blurry photos from the 1980s.

 

[CobraRed]

I love the design and ingenuity of it, but what does it solve? Makes more force? With a lifetime warranty press the only limitation currently is your impact, and 1/2" impacts today are massively powerful - certainly enough for a ball joint.

The cups you need only work with this tool so it's not like you can use your current set, and that small cup set is $430. Perhaps at a lower price point I would be willing to consider it for its better access/size in some scenarios.

 

[3jakes]

Trade show demo:
Kind of makes me want to do ball joints just for the fun of it.

<iframe width="1280" height="722" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ryXULM2acSk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[milwaukeephil]

Looks a lot more clumsy than the BJP1 and if I'm reading correctly the cups are only for Ford and Chevy trucks?

 

[Skin]

The cups you need only work with this tool so it's not like you can use your current set, and that small cup set is $430.

Actually from what I was told it's designed to be used with any ball joint cups.

 

[Benito]

I was on board for $700 then found out you need to buy cups too. Back to the Snap-On truck it is

 

[Tallpilot]

I always find the business decisions these companies make interesting. Let's stipulate that the BJP1 is the current leader. If we want to beat it we need to make something either significantly better for a similar price or attack the value angle with something not quite as good but significantly cheaper.

This appears to be not quite as good and more expensive. That's pretty hard to get excited about.

 

[mcmtech]

Interesting, but I’ll stick with the snap on bjp1 I have

 

[Robert Haas]

clumsy to use for sure. like the idea of a multiplier in regards to pressure, however most of us use an air impact onour presses so we already have enough force available.

 

[tatra]

Could a diff spreader design be utilized in a shop made tool ?

 

[Skin]

Looks a lot more clumsy than the BJP1 and if I'm reading correctly the cups are only for Ford and Chevy trucks?

That's what I think too, mainly due to the weight. 20lb isn't much to brag about, that's hub grappler weight. The additional clearance is nice though also for control arm bushings on the vehicle.

The guy I talked to said the press will have a universal push block to be used with most BJ cup kits available (OTC and knock-offs basically) so you don't 100% need to buy their special cups like you do with BJP1.

 

[lugnut71]

i have done many a ball joint and few years ago i bought the bjp-1, what i like about the matco is you can press either direction, so the forcing screw can be either up or down depending on clearance for the impact gun. What i really like is both sides have a pass thru hole for the ball joint stud, so if you have a tall stud you dont have to have deep/ tall adapter for the clearance .

 

[AA/FC]

Looks like it should provide about double the force of a traditional BJP.

I don't need it, but I do like it!

 

[toolman9w]

The c frame with 150lbs on the screw put out about 6000 pounds of force. 50lbs on the Matco screw put out over 7000 pounds. It's a nice piece. A little getting use to.

 

[toolman9w]

Actually from what I was told it's designed to be used with any ball joint cups.

That's what I've been told.

 

[Robert Haas]

i have done many a ball joint and few years ago i bought the bjp-1, what i like about the matco is you can press either direction, so the forcing screw can be either up or down depending on clearance for the impact gun. What i really like is both sides have a pass thru hole for the ball joint stud, so if you have a tall stud you dont have to have deep/ tall adapter for the clearance .

You can set up the BJP-1 to press in both directions, it allows the cups to go on either side.

 

[Robert Haas]

The c frame with 150lbs on the screw put out about 6000 pounds of force. 50lbs on the Matco screw put out over 7000 pounds. It's a nice piece. A little getting use to.

your math is broken

 

[lugnut71]

you cannot press both directions with the bjp-1, because the forcing screw is in the way.

 

[gatlibs]

Does anyone know the country of origin?

 

[Skin]

Taiwan. Made by Schley.