Which master ball joint press remover installer kit?

Farmer Joe · Oct 30, 2011

Hey guys and gals. I'm shopping around for a master ball joint press remover/installer kit. I figured I'd go for the master kit right away. I've mostly been trying to decide between the astro and OTC set. Although, I've seen some people swear by the HF kit too, and it does kind of look like the astro kit lol.

I'd be using the kit in a professional setting, so I need it to be able most of what I throw at it.

Any advice on these kits, or do you guys prefer any others? Thanks!

Tarheelgarage · Oct 30, 2011

I've had the OTC master bj press set for many years and it has never let me down.

Check prices on amazon as the price of this kit varies wildly.

blacK20 · Oct 30, 2011

Go with the astro press along with their master adapter kit. Your wallet will be much further ahead than buying the otc master kit which is pricey. From my experience you will never have all the adapters even with the master kit. Every now and then I'll get a vehicle where none of my adapters work and end up rigging something up myself.

chadster1 · Oct 30, 2011

I sell a bunch of the Astro kits.

scott37300 · Oct 30, 2011

chadster1 said:
I sell a bunch of the Astro kits.

Do you ever have any Astro kits come back for warranty issues?

Farmer Joe · Oct 30, 2011

scott37300 said:
Do you ever have any Astro kits come back for warranty issues?

This is probably my main issue when considering the astro kit. I mean, I do like astro stuff, I have at least 4 other astro kits, but it makes me wonder here when the OTC kit is nearly double the price

blacK20 · Oct 30, 2011

I bet if you had the astro and otc press side by side, you wouldn't be able to tell one from the other.

chadster1 · Oct 30, 2011

I have only had a couple come back where the c clamp portion bent. Not common enough for me to quit selling it.

GeorgiaHybrid · Oct 30, 2011

Of the two you mentioned, I would take the OTC press. For ease of use as a pro, I would hunt around for a Snap-on press and adapters. The adapters snap onto the press and don't require 3 hands to hold everything in place when you use it.

Toolhorder · Oct 30, 2011

This thread is interesting since I just got a master kit today. I need to replace my U-joints on my truck and was just looking for a tool that could press u-joints in. My Snap-on dealer only had the master set (I was just looking at the u-joint kit) so I ended up dropping $600 on one. It's suppose to do both u-joints and ball joints we'll see.
I don't do many ball joints but maybe I will after this

Lil Toe · Oct 30, 2011

I've used/abused the standard 4x4 Astro kit for about 10 yrs now with no issues. I also bought the HF Master Adapter set but as stated above, you'll run into times you have to make one. I've done ball and ujoints in everything from Dana 30's to Dana 60's with my setup.

LWaite · Oct 30, 2011

I have beat the hell out of the HF master kit and it still works fine

Toolhorder · Oct 30, 2011

I couldn't buy the HF one cause I support American tool companies.

Wesley B · Oct 30, 2011

Hammer and floor jack.

Toolhorder · Oct 30, 2011

Wesley B said:
Hammer and floor jack.

Huh? How you gonna press out a ball joint with a jack and a hammer? Or press out u-joints?

ibedayank · Oct 30, 2011

I bent the hf press on a balljoint for a S10
would not buy another!!

Toolhorder · Oct 30, 2011

ibedayank said:
I bent the hf press on a balljoint for a S10
would not buy another!!

I didn't want to take that chance with the import kits. One thing that pisses me off to no end is having a car/truck all apart and a special tool brakes and makes my life more difficult.
From your post and from what GeorgiaHybrid says about the Snappy adapters I'm glad I got the SO press.

ourkid2000 · Oct 30, 2011

I bought the OTC Ball joint kit from a guy on here and he ripped me off......06WT was his name. Jackass

Wesley B · Oct 30, 2011

Toolhorder said:
Huh? How you gonna press out a ball joint with a jack and a hammer? Or press out u-joints?

Beat it out with a hammer and back in with a jack and hammer around the bj.

blacK20 · Oct 30, 2011

Wesley B said:
Beat it out with a hammer and back in with a jack and hammer around the bj.

That will only work on select vehicles. He needs something in a pro environment so that's not going to be an option for him.

chadster1 · Oct 30, 2011

ourkid2000 said:
I bought the OTC Ball joint kit from a guy on here and he ripped me off......06WT was his name. Jackass

...and this pertains to this thread how?

Seanbev24 · Oct 30, 2011

IMO, the best way to go for quality on the cheap is the basic OTC press kit combined with the HF master adaptor set. I've used this setup for a while now with no issues.

A coworker has the Snap-On set, and in a pro environment, it really is worth the money. I'll be buying it when funds allow.

Wesley B · Oct 30, 2011

blacK20 said:
That will only work on select vehicles. He needs something in a pro environment so that's not going to be an option for him.

I know, it was more of a joke then anything.

jeffk14 · Oct 30, 2011

For the best balance of price, durability and reliability, if I had it to do all over again, I'd probably go with the OTC basic set and get the HF master adapter kit. With that said, I currently have the HF version of everything. No problems yet.

ourkid2000 · Oct 30, 2011

chadster1 said:
...and this pertains to this thread how?

Sorry, just venting.....every time someone brings up ball joint kits I think about it and I get angry.

Apologies

00S4Boy · Oct 30, 2011

If you've ever done a press in ball joint watch this and never look back.

GeorgiaHybrid · Oct 30, 2011

00S4Boy said:
If you've ever done a press in ball joint watch this and never look back.

Hence the reason I bought this:

Toolhorder · Oct 31, 2011

GeorgiaHybrid said:
Hence the reason I bought this:

That's the kit I got from my dealer over the weekend. Funny thing happened. I helped my neighbor put some brake pads on the front of his 2002 Chevy 1500. I get to the second wheel and notice once it was jacked up it was loose up/down. Took off the wheel and the upper ball joint is sloppy as hell. I go to my SUV and tell him, I have the tools to rebuild it and pull out the SO kit above.
I think needs a control arm though. Didn't look like I could press it out.

Toolhorder · Oct 31, 2011

I wanted to add too that I think I'll be making a video of the u-joint replacement I'm going to do with the press if anyone is interested. Vehicle is a 87 Toyota pickup.

Farmer Joe · Nov 1, 2011

Thanks for the advice so far guys. That SO set looks ****.
I'm leaning towards the OTC master set.

vssjim · Nov 1, 2011

MOOG uses OTC master kits at thier school and sells adapters made by OTC for customers.

Greatbear · Nov 1, 2011

Been using an OTC set for eons. :thumbup:

bgott · Nov 1, 2011

OTC ball joint press with a Sunex adaptor set.

Tarheelgarage · Nov 2, 2011

Toolhorder said:
I wanted to add too that I think I'll be making a video of the u-joint replacement I'm going to do with the press if anyone is interested. Vehicle is a 87 Toyota pickup.

So how did that SO BJ press do?

jeffk14 · Nov 2, 2011

Tarheelgarage said:
So how did that SO BJ press do?

Heh heh, apparently, not too good.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123372
Wasn't the tool's fault though. Toyota evidently has a bastardized tapered shaft assembly around the ears.

Which master ball joint press remover installer kit?

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