So I have to replace my lower ball joints on my car to pass the insurance inspection!!!
So here is my question im at the point to where I either try hammering the old one out or just rent the tool............I tried a few cracks with the hammer...NO GO!!!
Has anyone had success hammering these ****** out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess it off to the rental store for me!!!!

 

1. "Insurance inspection" -- WTF is that??

2. How do you know that your ball joints are bad?

3. You are NOT getting them off by hitting them with a hammer.

4. What's the big deal about renting a ball joint tool?
I dunno about up there, but here in the US, the rental is free from any major parts chain.

5. The front suspension information, from Wild About Cars, is here.
Join WildAboutCars.com

- Eric

 

hahah...you have to get a safety inspection...with out it the insurance company will not insure the car!!!!!!..

Had it done by a mechanic and the only thing he would not let pass were the two lower ball joints!!!

I am going to the local napa store tomorrow

 

Wow - never heard of a safety inspection by an insurance company.

Visual inspection to be sure it's really the car you say it is, and is really in the condition pictured, yes, but a safety inspection??

I'm not sure whether the visual ball joint wear indicator started in '71 or '72, but I couldn't find it in the '71 book, so I guess you don't have it, and the wear was determined the old fashioned way.

Definitely don't even think about swapping ball joints without some kind of a tool - if you hit the area hard enough to loosen the joint, you've got a good chance of bending up the arm. A proper press makes the job almost easy.

Rob (Lady72nRob71) has an excellent and detailed thread on re-doing his front suspension, which may be of help.

Good luck!

- Eric

 

Well MD I took your advice and borrowed the press out tool.....It works great!!!
I had a busy evening after work clearing snow...we had 25 + cm over night....finished up plowing at 730 and was dome the first ball joint by 830...not bad for a first time ball joint change out!!!

I will do the second tomorrow evening!!!!

 

It's scary how well things can go with the right tools!

You lose the bragging rights of saying, "I did it with a screwdriver, a big rock, and a couple of toothpicks," though.

- Eric