so what joyous fun am i going to have some soon weekend?! noticed some funny tire wear and behold, time for new balljoints. since my hands were right there i wiggled the axle joint too and was horrified at the amount of play. can't be any needles left in them. so, i need to source parts and get to it. any advice for where to get the stuff or unusual tools i'm going to need? do i need a huge goofy socket like i did for the chevy? whats with the half shaft in the pass side? shoot me now. buisy season is just starting and at a rediculous pace. maybe if i buy a bunch of beer and plan on blowing a whole weekend....

yea you are going to need a ball joint press,and a ton of pb blaster for the ball joints.as far as the u joints go ive done them with just a few basic tools and a vise.the only socket bigger than normal is a 36 mm(i think) for the axels the rest are normal sizes. you may be able to go to a parts store and rent the balljoint tool goodluck and you might want a liter of jack to go with the beer when it comes to the ball joints. i would say heat around them with torches but since that is steering that is a bit dangerouse and may be illeagal due to weakining of the metal.

cuervo, you say you've changed the knuckle u-joints yourself? i farmed the chevys knuckles out. thought they were different than regular u-joints but i'm not sure why i thought that. i'll have to look closer. ever try the freezer method for installing balljoints? freeze the sucker before stuffing the new in. guess it's the local s#1t bird parts house for me. maybe next weekend.

i never really had problems with u-joints unless they was rusted in.and i never tried the freezer method the hardest part is getting the ball joints out.once you do use a small wire brush or emory cloth to remove the rust in the hole then slap a little never seeze on the ball joint then press it in.most ball joints come with snap rings so they wont come out so you dont have to worry about the never seeze.that is anther thing you will need if you dont have a set,snap ring pliars. i talked to the shop supervisor today he said the worse ones he ever did on a jeep required a torch,the ball joint press, a bfh, and a few hours.maybe if you clean around the ball joints where pb blaster will soak in good and you start spraying now ,and keep hitting it with more throughout the week they may come out without killing yourself.