AWD laser ball joint install.

[plymouthlazer]

Hello all! ive had friends with DSMs for years, and finally just bought my first one.
Its a 92 awd 5sp. getting a built stage 2 trans from shep. hopefully this week.(i live real close to his shop).

anyhow, with my trans out i was checking the bearings and my driver side front bearing and ball joint are bad. i pressed out both front (driver and passenger side) ball joints with a rented tool from auto zone, and ordered 2 moog ball joints. do they need to be pressed back in? or can i clean up the control arms with a dremel, freeze my joints and tap them back in? i can always rent the press again no biggie.

I have the hub off, but ive still yet to locate a wheel bearing and both seals. i have a hydraulic press at work, and ive done pressed bearings before, as my napa machine shop wants like 50$ to press old bearing out and new one back in. If the one side dosen't give me trouble, i might do the passenger side for the hell of it.

so i guess my main question is about freezing my joints and putting them back in with a dead blow. i would just get the joint in partway and pull it in by tightening the hub on it, but it requires circlip on top side

thanks a lot!!

and hows the quality on timken bearings?

 

[Rigo91]

im going to be replacing mine sometime this week and I'm going to be using this method, don't know if it'll help u

http://boostnbenz.1baddsm.com/DIY/FrontSuspension/balljoint/

 

[plymouthlazer]

i might have to rent that press again i guess. we'll see. btw my rotor splash shield is pretty mangled. Do most of you guys pitch it while doing the bearing? or is it really necessary

 

[kris_stewart10]

I pitched mine but just be careful going through water after hard braking you WILL warp your rotors. True story it happened to me and if its already mangled then what is the point of it anyway oh and just to be safe do it the right way and press it in i would personally its worth doing it right its your life you are building not just a car.

 

[plymouthlazer]

right on, i feel a lot more comfortable pressing it myself, new bearing has to be pressed in by the outer race or it will potentially damage the bearing. same with pressing the hub in, pressure must not be put on the balls.