I've done some research and can't come up with a definitive answer. Auto part stores sell them, some say just to buy the whole LCR. What's the deal? I'm looking for response from Max owners who have pressed them in or have some experience with them. BTW gotta '01 SE auto Max.

 

Use a press or buy the entire LCA.

 

If you don't want to remove the entire LCA to replace the balljoints, you can use a kit like this to remove and install the ball joints, w/o removing the LCA from the vehicle. It is a beefy setup and will make easy work of pressing out and in a new ball joint.



The job will be a lot easier if you also have a front end service kit, that puller in the top right is tool to separate the ball joint from the knucle. You may be able to seperate the knuckle w/o it but, it will not be as easy as with the kit, and if its realy siezed on ... not possible.


These kits can be purchased from harbor freight for $50 and $80 respectively, or can be loaned from advance auto parts for free (maybe autozone). I used both these kits last w/e to replace all the ball joints & tierod ends on my 01 dodge durango... and those lower balljoints were massive compared to the maxima. I bought these kits localy and paid $300+ for both, before i realized i could have gotten them from HF for almost $200 less -and I have no regrets.

 

Pickle fork anyone?

 

Im not saying, the job cant be done w/o the front end service kit....The first time i did an outer tie rod end on max the pickle fork worked fine. But after 8 winters in the northeast, the parts on my front suspension are seized together and really put up a fight when trying to separate them.
I know this all to well b/c i fought my front end in January when replacing my clutch, couldn't break the drive shaft retaining bolt w/ generous PB blaster and my gun (625 ft/lbs torque) or with a 3/4 socket set and pipe, and i didnt want to torch the nut and destroy my cv boots. So i opted to remove the knuckle in order to remove the drive shafts, i wasn't able to separate the ball joint from the knuckle either, I have a good set of forks as well as one for my air chisel, they were not up for the job the only thing that would do it was separator in the kit. (the same one the FSM recomends).

 

how much are the LCA?

 

i believe they are about $200 price range for each at the dealership. Just remember, do not buy the ebay ones, they suck.

 

KRRZ350 just replaced one of my ball joints with a Moog replacement. He needed the kit from Autozone to do so, but it is possible.

 

Dave B's got the LCA for @ $150 a side (front), but I think he's doin' a 3-5% off deal right now. Thanks for the help. Generic parts stores have MOOG ball joints for about $50 a side (LLW). My bushings are fine; prob just press'em myself (friend's got the tools).

 

I did the LBJs with the Autozone kit. It was pretty straight forward, no surprises though it take a lof of time. I did the first one in 2 hrs and the second in 20min, that is the learning curve you gain from one end to the other...

The control arm on mine was just fine therefore just replaced the LBJs. Good luck.

 

Buy a Moog lower balljoint and buy or rent the balljoint install/removal tool and call it the day! There's no need to replace the entire LCA. Unless you just don't like $$$$! Ps. as for the 2 pic's in post#3 the lower one in the red carry case will not remove a balljoint from a LCA! They only remove the close tolerance pin from the knuckle/ suspension components when dealing with balljoints, tierods, pitman arms, idler arms, etc...It's not a balljoint press! The picture above it is.....on post #3!

 

Just a bit confuse from fellow post on this thread. I found this post on a search I did about "pounding" the lower ball joint out. Can anyone confirm this ? If not Ill be getting the kit as stated before, thanks.

 

Control Arm & Ball Joint Assembly: Front Suspension;Lower; Complete Arm With Ball Joint; 2 Per Car Warranty: Limited Lifetime*

$121.99

From advanced auto parts.

Click Picture for more details.

 

I have MOOG Lower Ball joints already to install, and theirs nothing wrong with my LCA's. I just wanted to know if I really needed that press kit that was mention on post 3 or can I pound it out .

 

You can pound it out but loaning the tool from a parts store will make your life 100% easier, plus when your done, you get the money back for the loaner tool program most stores have.

 

Thank You Sir.