What can I do about a bad ball joint on a Jeep Wrangler?

What can I do about a bad ball joint on a Jeep Wrangler?

Use a long pry bar or broom handle inserted under one of the front tires to move the tire up and down. While the tire goes up and down, you may see movement in your ball joints. You should not see any movement.Here is an example of a bad ball joint:

How do you pop out a ball joint?

You’ll need to use your ball joint tool, and press out the ball joints. Start with the upper ball joint, and arrange the tool so that it pushes the ball joint from beneath, up into the receiver cup. It will take a good deal of pressure, but eventually the ball joint will pop out. Once the upper ball joint is out you’ll move on to the lower one.

How do you remove the ball joint from a lawn mower?

Removing the Old Ball Joint Pull the cotter pin and loosen the large castellated nut. The top should look like a crown, or castle, at the bottom. Pop loose the ball joint. The goal is to try to guide it through the hole in the upper half of the steering knuckle. Remove the allen bolts and slide the control arm free.

How do you put a new ball joint in a car?

Slide the new rubber boot over the ball joint’s stud and guide the new ball joint back up through the steering knuckle hole, where it came from. Bolt the joint into place using the hardware included.

Use a long pry bar or broom handle inserted under one of the front tires to move the tire up and down. While the tire goes up and down, you may see movement in your ball joints. You should not see any movement.Here is an example of a bad ball joint:

Can you replace the steering knuckle on a Jeep Wrangler?

Now that both ball joints are in place, you can reinstall the steering knuckle. Put the castle nut on the lower ball joint and torque it to 75 lbs, then put the upper castle nut on and torque it to 70 lbs and reinstall the cotter pins. The steering knuckle should move freely back and forth.

What’s the best way to install a ball joint?

Using your ball joint tool again, press your lower ball joint into place (press up from the bottom). Make sure that it goes in straight (not at an angle), also make sure that the ball joint is completely seated. Once the ball joint is in, remove the plug, install the grease fitting, and grease it up.

You’ll need to use your ball joint tool, and press out the ball joints. Start with the upper ball joint, and arrange the tool so that it pushes the ball joint from beneath, up into the receiver cup. It will take a good deal of pressure, but eventually the ball joint will pop out. Once the upper ball joint is out you’ll move on to the lower one.

What do you need to replace a ball joint on a Jeep Wrangler?

You’ll also need a standard socket set, a floor jack, a grease gun (to lube your new ball joints), and some jack stands to secure everything. This is used with the standard ball joint tool that you rent at the local parts store. What this does is give you a tapered cup.

Now that both ball joints are in place, you can reinstall the steering knuckle. Put the castle nut on the lower ball joint and torque it to 75 lbs, then put the upper castle nut on and torque it to 70 lbs and reinstall the cotter pins. The steering knuckle should move freely back and forth.

Can a worn out ball joint be replaced?

If you’ve installed oversized wheels and tires, that can wear out the original factory ball joints faster than usual. You can replace you worn out ball joints with factory quality ball joints, or take the opportunity to upgrade them to heavier duty ball joints to help keep them from wearing out prematurely again.

Using your ball joint tool again, press your lower ball joint into place (press up from the bottom). Make sure that it goes in straight (not at an angle), also make sure that the ball joint is completely seated. Once the ball joint is in, remove the plug, install the grease fitting, and grease it up.

How do you know if ball joints need to be replaced?

Inspect the ball joints to make sure they need to be replaced. Figure out if your vehicle’s got a strut-style suspension or a control arm, then check the ball joint by either jacking up the control arm near the ball joint to check for wheel play, or by jacking up the car and using a pry-bar to check for wheel play in a strut-style suspension.

What makes up the lower ball joint on a steering wheel?

The lower ball joint is what attaches the steering knuckle and control arm together. There are two pieces which make up the lower ball joint; a socket and ball. These pieces are inside of a rubber boot that is filled with lubricant. Basically, the lower ball joint allows the wheels and tires to be connected to the vehicle and its steering assembly.

Where are the ball joints on a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Today, we tackle the Jeep Grand Cherokee Upper and Lower Ball Joints. We’ll use a rented tool set from our local auto parts place for the ball joint applica… Today, we tackle the Jeep Grand Cherokee Upper and Lower Ball Joints.

How to replace a strut on a jeep?

If you’re just replacing struts, then undo the upper ball joint, sway end-links, upper strut mount bolts (4) and drop everything. Loosen the lower strut-clamp bolt and replace the strut, obviously need a spring compressor. You should be good!

What can I do about worn out ball joints?

You can replace you worn out ball joints with factory quality ball joints, or take the opportunity to upgrade them to heavier duty ball joints to help keep them from wearing out prematurely again. Installing new ball joints requires a special ball joint press to remove and install as they are pressed into the axle.

How to remove strut bolts from lower control arm?

Then feed the upper half of the strut assembly into the wheel well and line up the 4 bolts up top under the hood (we installed all 4 nuts up top to help keep the weight off the strut assembly, do NOT fully tighten) Next line up the clevis bracket and the bottom of the strut the best you can.