So if I tear the rubber boot thingys on the ball joints does that mean they are bad now or what? I tore the ones on the passenger side as I am installing my lift spindles

 

not necesarily, but your going to need to replace them really soon.

 

Yeah I'd replace them asap. They upper or lower balljoints? You could get away with it for a little while but if you get any dirt in there it's gonna be bad news bears.

 

Ask tommy, buy him a 12pack of coronas and the ball joints and head to his house, he could do it pretty quick, he did mibne like in 30 mins..

 

You can do it with a balljoint press from autozone pretty easy too.

 

I tore them trying to get the spindle off (which is still not off!)

 

When your trying to take the bolt off, dont pull it , jerk it, to make it act almost like an impact, it will loosen the bolt..


I have to do it with my Struts on my car.

 

I ran on torn joints for the past, oh, 8 months or so. It's not good, but you can do it for awhile. It accelerates the deterioration -- especially when you dunk 'em under water as much as I do. I just got done replacing the last torn one. I did my lowers a couple of months back, passengers side upper last month because the joint was so worn it wouldn't pass state inspection, and now the drivers side upper tonight. I still have tears in the tie rod ***** -- they're next.

I really don't have the technique of separating them properly, for sure. I tore every single frigging boot when I did my spindles.

 

Andy, wedge a crowbar underneath the UCA and above the framerail, then whack the spindle with a hammer. For the bottom, I used a 2-arm gear puller.

 

I just went to autozone and rented the tie rod puller thingy so I hope it works better than the balljoint puller. Thanks for the help guys guess I will try your ideas!

 

Alright I have got the tie rod off but I cant get the lower balljoint one off there is too much room between the spindle and the LCA. How did everyone else get theirs off. I think I should not have taken the upper one off yet.

 

I actually pulled my whole arm off...

 

Well it just needs alittle more and it will come off it is pissing me off!

 

What does the tool look like andy? I used a 2 arm gear puller to get the bottom out.