In this video I replace the original factory lower ball joint on my 2003 Chevrolet Suburban K1500. Interestingly, the ball joint had 4 tabs that were bent over functioning as keepers instead of the typical snap ring. I was able to remove the ball joint with a rented ball joint press but I couldn’t complete the installation due to the adapters being the wrong size. I then purchased a new ball joint press from Harbor Freight that included more adapters. With this new press I was able to complete the install of the new Moog K6541 lower ball joint.
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I’m just impressed. It was actually a grease fitting on that thing!
Grease fitting that will never be greased😂
The last time I had a bad ball joint, I just bought a new control arm that came with one installed from the factory. Well worth it.
Every guy in the rust belt is drooling over that clean 800
After having bought moog for years now, they arent as great as the used to be, good luck with that new one, youll be replacing it in a year or 2
I will stand by the Maddox ball joint press all day long. I've done some wild stuff with them and they just keep trucking along
I usually just take a cut of wheel and use it to grind the tabs down before pressing it out
I think by now those maddox ball joint kits are in 98% of garages. The other 2% are the snap on guys who think you need to spend $3000 for it's equivalent
One thing I’ve learned over the years, Don’t ever use Moog ball joints.
You absolutely did and you need to do it to the one you install unless it has a snap ring
Heat up arm with torch while new ball joint shrinks in freezer. Easy peazy
My 96 was rusty not used to that being from Texas!.I replaced lower upper a-arms ball joints tie rod ends shocks sway bar links. Now having trouble with getting it aligned 3 times at discount tire. I finally did it by trial and error! Goes straight for now.
Took those tabs to pound town... 😅 I'll see myself out.
I knew it was a GM before you mentioned it because I’ve seen them before. In my experiences you do have to straighten out those four tabs before you do press it out.
Haven't seen a Zerk fitting on a non commercial for thirty-five years
That looks like new control arm time to me 🤣
I hate press-in ball joints. My current car has ball joints that bolt on and it is convenient. Back when I was new to fixing my own car, I figured the ball joints would be simple, and they were. The problem is, I did not have the correct tools and I was not hip to tool rentals. I had to make it to Thanksgiving the next day, so I ended up DRILLING OUT the cast iron with wood bits and hammering the new one back in. About a week later I just bought the control arm with the ball joint pressed in.
That Moog unit looks pretty decent. 👌🏽
Dude! I wish more ball joints came with zerk/grease fittings. Cheers from the UK. 🇬🇧
The last time i replace a ball joint was never. Car 320,XXX miles and still going stong. 😅