Ball joint press, anyone? - Suspension work about to commence

[wast3gate]

I posted some time back about replacing struts and the like. I finally have all the components assembled. On my plate to replace is the following:

Struts - F/R
LCA Bushings -- all four
Front hubs/wheel bearings
Ball joints
Tie rod ends (I'll probably just let the alignment shop do this)

As near as I can tell, the hardest operation is going to be pressing out/in the LCA bushings. If I don't have to, I'd just as soon not buy a press from HFT. For all the bike wrenching I do, I could justify the expense, but I'm not one to spend money, just because. At least where cars are involved.

The folks at LGT.com suggested a c-style ball-joint press tool to get the LCA bushings out. Has anyone got anything like this:

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-4511-otc-8031.aspx

Again, if I don't have to buy it, I don't want to. I'd even entertain bringing the LCAs to a shop to let them press them out, but so far, I haven't found a shop willing to let me walk in with my parts -- which sucks and doesn't make a lot of sense. You make money on service, not parts. I speak from experience...

Anyway, as always, any help is appreciated.

[Storm]

You can borrow my shop press if you'd like. It's just sitting in the garage doing nothing these days, since there's already one at the shop. Alternatively, feel free to bring your parts out and press away......

[ebpda9]

i used something like that to get the bushings out halfway, then hammered them out. Have a good torch ready for the balljoint pinch bolt. I did not and ended up replacing the knuckles because the bolt broke inside the knuckle and it was seized there pretty good, that no easy out took it out.

[TSi+WRX]

See, I told ya LERSOC would come through!

[Storm]

If the car were to come to SAULS.....we have the technology to get the pinch bolt out....broken or not. Use plenty of PB Blaster on the whole balljoint area where it's inside the knuckle. It won't guarantee removal without breaking, but it'll help.

FWIW.....I'm out of town racing this weekend, but one of the guys (Niles) should/can be there if needed.

[berkshire40]

w00t. i need mine pressed too

[wast3gate]

Originally Posted by Storm

You can borrow my shop press if you'd like. It's just sitting in the garage doing nothing these days, since there's already one at the shop. Alternatively, feel free to bring your parts out and press away......

Wow. Awesome!

Where are you located?

I plan on taking the LCAs off tomorrow sometime.

[wast3gate]

Originally Posted by ebpda9

i used something like that to get the bushings out halfway, then hammered them out. Have a good torch ready for the balljoint pinch bolt. I did not and ended up replacing the knuckles because the bolt broke inside the knuckle and it was seized there pretty good, that no easy out took it out.

If I'm honest about it, I feel like I messed up and should have just bought the whole new LCA -- which comes with new bushings and ball joints already in place. But it was a difference of about $120/side -- between just getting the bushings and ball joints, and buying the whole new LCA.

I guess we'll see...

[berkshire40]

mine are aluminum $$$

[wast3gate]

Originally Posted by berkshire40

mine are aluminum $$$

Yeah... That makes a difference.

[TSi+WRX]

Originally Posted by berkshire40

mine are aluminum $$$

Wait....

I thought teh SpecBs all got Adamantium?

[berkshire40]

So did you end up pressing these? I am getting ready to do mine, its just my fronts though (2 bushings per LCA)

[Storm]

I was out of town all weekend. PM me if this needs to be done.

[berkshire40]

my ball joint separator tool is at my dads house. if i can get it before then i might be able to take the two front LCAs off this weekend.

I'm going to need an alignment like right after installing these

[berkshire40]

so a guy on LGT.com is saying that I should just press them out and use heat (oven) to set the new ones in...

[ebpda9]

if you guys get me the control arms i can have the bushings pressed out at work. I am going to take a spare control arm to have the bushing pressed out. I think mine might be a bit tweaked.

[n2x4]

Just a FYI - you can rent the ball joint press from Advanced auto for free. I managed to replace mine using the press, a few impact sockets and some big washers.

[wast3gate]

I haven't done anything with this yet. It was my hope to get cracking on it this weekend, but some things have come up, and it looks like I'll be getting a lot of nothing done instead. Which is nice.

There's always next weekend. The trouble is, things aren't improving with my front end. I just can't tell if it's the LCA bushings crumbling further causing the noise, the ball joints, wheel bearings, struts/mounts, etc.

I'm set to replace the whole lot of it... I just have to set aside the time to do it.

[n2x4]

I doubt your LCA bushings are crumbling or falling apart. The big bushing (front rear) is actually liquid filled. If it were to have gone bad, you'd have sticky goo surrounding it.

That's actually something to keep in mind when replacing that bushing. If it bursts, be prepared to clean up a small sticky mess.

[TSi+WRX]

The BL/BP front-rear LCA bushing has a problem with wearing out rather prematurely.

[wast3gate]

With 126k now, I don't know that we can call it premature, anymore.

It's just that my front end has gotten *VERY* crunchy and clunky of late.

[TSi+WRX]

Originally Posted by wast3gate

With 126k now, I don't know that we can call it premature, anymore.

^