[Toyotajoe]

Did a search but to no avail...

Have to replace an upper Ball Joint boot on my '98 4x4 V6. The whole thing seems straight forward enough, any surprises I should know about? Tips or tricks to make the job easier? Any special tools needed?

And before I forget - gonna get my bud to help. How many beers are required to get the job done?

 

[Toyotajoe]

No tips eh?

Do I need a special puller or anything?

 

[cooper4x4]

Not trying to be a jerk but if you dont know how to do theuppers, let someone else do it. My roomate is a technician for Ford and one of his cop buddies tried to change the uppers on his Police Edition Crown Vic. Well he fuc*ed it up and the upper popped out when he was driving. If he had been on the interstate, he could have flipped the car. Just an FYI.

 

[Toyotajoe]

That is exactly what I am trying to find out. I need to replace only the boot, as I just noticed it cracked the other day and leaking grease. If the ball joint had to be popped from the control arm to perform this service, I was planning on taking to a shop. If it was a simple procedure to replace the boot, then I was going to do it myself.

Basically, does the joint need to be pulled or not?

 

[ShowStop]

A good 2-jaw puller big enough to grab the upper arm and press out the stud would be good to have. Those studs like to really freeze themselves into the upper arm. You don't want to use a pickle fork since that will trash the ball joint.

 

[Toyotajoe]

Thanks for the help!

Since the area in which I live uses ALOT of salt during the winter months, and the truck is 7 years old with the orig BJ - looks like it will be going to the shop. Gonna need a torch to loosen up that rust for sure...