Harbor Freight Maddox ball joint press for the win.

Joined
Jun 5, 2003
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Location
Apple Valley, California
Tonight I had to press another lower ball joint into the control arm on the FJ. This makes 9 ball joints the Maddox ball joint tool has installed

While not perfect it does the job once you figure out which adapters you need to use. Having a helper is a good idea to hold them in position while you get the big clamp positioned.

I found it easier to beat the old ball joint out with a big hammer then use the tool too install the new one.

For $90 it a great tool.
 
Ball joint presses are really useful tools, you can now refurbish control arm bushings (and other bushings) as well. Its still worth doing a cost comparison on individual bushings vs the entire unit as I've observed the savings can be questionable. The only minor irritation is now is: do you have all the cups and adapters for the next job, is your maddox big enough? I ran into that problem. OTC has a big mama jama and it has destroyed anything I've attempted. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J3LOSK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
I’ve got the Astro (naturally…) which was about $120 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00061SGZO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Part of the reason I got that one, was so that I could get the XL frame, which allows me more options with its greater depth.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JBOA4GK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

About $80.

So, all in, about $200. Still, not terribly priced and really works well - as you noted, getting the right adapters, and getting everything lined up is critical.
 
Tonight I had to press another lower ball joint into the control arm on the FJ. This makes 9 ball joints the Maddox ball joint tool has installed

While not perfect it does the job once you figure out which adapters you need to use. Having a helper is a good idea to hold them in position while you get the big clamp positioned.

I found it easier to beat the old ball joint out with a big hammer then use the tool too install the new one.

For $90 it a great tool.
I too love this tool. I got it on sale for $70 and I’m amazed by the quality and functionality. I was able to press out a lower ball joint on my F-150 using my Milwaukee M18 high torque in roughly 15 seconds.
 
I’ve got the Astro (naturally…) which was about $120 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00061SGZO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Part of the reason I got that one, was so that I could get the XL frame, which allows me more options with its greater depth.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JBOA4GK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

About $80.

So, all in, about $200. Still, not terribly priced and really works well - as you noted, getting the right adapters, and getting everything lined up is critical.
Even @$200 it pays for itself the first time you use it. The cost to have a shop do this job is easily $300+
 
You'll quickly hit the limits of the standard size presses if you wrench much, esp on trucks.

The Astro Goliath is nice for its Z-space, but with any of the lesser presses it gets old literally needing three hands to juggle adapters, so the BJP1 is the final answer for most users.

I actually don't do that many BJs but I replace u-joints like its going out of style. Since I got my BJP1 I haven't needed anything else, but I like having the Goliath in reserve in case I should need to do some wacky stack of adapters. I wish it had a little more throat depth, though.

If you want to follow some logic in this thread even the BJP1 pays for itself in the first BJ job ‐‐ maybe two jobs max given today's labor rates.
 
I see the HF tool in use here:



On my '67 Monaco the the upper ball joint needs a big socket to install/remove from the upper control arm, on my '01 Dodge Ram the upper/lower ball joints are held by 3 or 4 bolts so no pressing or socket it needed.

But the upper control arm bushings in my Monaco are pressed in like the upper ball joint in the video, but I put them in and remove them using my 10" vise (and 3-ft cheater pipe) and various-size/length exhaust pipe segments.

I find the pitman arm to be the hardest thing to remove for either vehicle, I bought a huge extractor (with 1" shaft nut) and 1" 3/4 drive socket and still had to use a propane torch for them to pop.
 
I've had one those no-name kits since the mid-90s. It's the best Chinese tool I've ever owned. Worked like it was made for my 69 Chevy pickup! I've probably done 3-4 more sets of ball joints over the years, and used it for a few other things, but can't recall what. :unsure:
 
You'll quickly hit the limits of the standard size presses if you wrench much, esp on trucks.

The Astro Goliath is nice for its Z-space, but with any of the lesser presses it gets old literally needing three hands to juggle adapters, so the BJP1 is the final answer for most users.

I actually don't do that many BJs but I replace u-joints like its going out of style. Since I got my BJP1 I haven't needed anything else, but I like having the Goliath in reserve in case I should need to do some wacky stack of adapters. I wish it had a little more throat depth, though.

If you want to follow some logic in this thread even the BJP1 pays for itself in the first BJ job ‐‐ maybe two jobs max given today's labor rates.
I used to be a tool snob, but have lost a lot of that now-a-days.. But the BJP1 still puts a smile on my face every time I use it! I've used a couple of lesser (IMO) presses before and they pale in comparison! This thing is a BEAST and just dominates every ball joint that I've ever replaced. No flex in the spine whatsoever...
 
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