Front ball joint tool - worth having or not? - 06 V70/XC70 Topic is solved

[scot850]

I have been speaking to a guy who sold his XC70 recently who has a bunch of new service parts for sale. I plan to pick them up tomorrow, but he also mentioned he has this tool, brand new in the storage case which is still wrapped in cellophane:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/322808090228

He is only asking $75 CDN (approx. $60 US) for the tool. I have never use one of these and don't recall really needing it when doing the lower ball-joints in the past on P2's. I know here they can get pretty crusty with the reaction between the aluminum and the steel with the road salt and de-icer agent they use.

Has anyone used this tool (or similar) and can advise if I should buy it or not? I have multiple friends with P2 cars that I help, however, $75 is still $75 I'd rather not spend if it is not of significant help for swapping a ball joint over.

Thanks,

Neil.

[Vova585]

Well, I would honestly buy it, but I am a tool junky and like to have proper tool for a job. Negotiate a little and get it for $50 and everyone will be happy.
Last time I replaced balljoints on my P2, I used a nice $5 gas pipe fitting with cap from home depot. Maybe 2 inch in diameter. Can check tomorrow. Worked great, but had to center the holes first and be decently careful. Replacement took place with control arm out of the car(new).

[br0dy519]

If you have a Noble plumbing supply near you. Get a 2” black iron male threaded coupler and a cap for it. Thread the first couple threads of both of the balljoint bolts for alignment then pop this on and smack it with a sledge. It makes very light work of the job and fits perfectly.

Edit: I just read your post. I wouldnt spend $75 on it. See if he throws it in for free with other stuff maybe. It’s an unnecessary given the above cheaper setup.

[scot850]

Thanks for the input guys, kind of where I was thinking. I have loads of tools, and seeing as I have done 3-4 P2 ball joints in maybe 15 years of P2 wrenching, it might be a while before I would need one.

I'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Neil.

[abscate]

That’s rich for that tool. I have a press , which eliminates the need for most of these things any how, and that’s only about $150 plus you can squeeze annoying kids fingers in it, too….always make them wear safety glasses

[crasbe]

This reminds me that I made a Ball Joint Removal Tool back in 2023 when I rebuilt my front suspension, but never published it

The material cost is only a couple of Money Units at most and it helped a lot when doing that job.
I was not able to press the ball joints out fully with it, but applying preload made it easier to get them out with a hammer and chisel.

See the Printables page for the model and additional instructions: https://www.printables.com/model/171128 ... moval-tool

[vtl]

I was not able to press the ball joints out fully with it, but applying preload made it easier to get them out with a hammer and chisel.

That's because when you are serious about getting job done you gotta use a SLEDGE hammer Also having a chisel variety helps, so you could choose a properly angled chisel for the job.

[scot850]

Has nobody used heat on the surrounds of the ball joint to help get it loose? I seem to recall doing that one time.

As to your suggestion Abscate of a shop press, I have considered it, but look at the space they take up and the fact in 50 years I have needed one maybe 10 times. In each case I knew someone who had bought one and had it standing doing nothing. It is a bit like that. That is where the tool has it's advantages in that the storage space is much less!

Lots of good suggestions and it makes it unlikely I will buy the tool now. Once the 4Runner exits the garage for good, I will free up a bit more space by getting rid of a lot of spares including wheels. Hopefully that will happen in the next couple of months. I did look on line on FBM and there are a fair selection of floor mounted shop presses for sale. I'm guessing all those folks who find they used them once and then they just hung around gathering dust.

Good discussion and great alternates to the tool guys! Thanks for sharing the ingenuity.

Neil.

[scot850]

Well I got a deal on the tool! How does FREE sound?? Really nice guy who has upgraded (maybe not!) to a P3 XC70. He worked at the EMS workshop. We got chatting and he said as I help others, and he won't no ever use the tool I could have it for free.

That was really kind and generous of him. Still not convinced I may ever use it but hey.......!

Neil.

[abscate]

Has nobody used heat on the surrounds of the ball joint to help get it loose? I seem to recall doing that one time.

As to your suggestion Abscate of a shop press, I have considered it, but look at the space they take up and the fact in 50 years I have needed one maybe 10 times. In each case I knew someone who had bought one and had it standing doing nothing. It is a bit like that. That is where the tool has it's advantages in that the storage space is much less!

Lots of good suggestions and it makes it unlikely I will buy the tool now. Once the 4Runner exits the garage for good, I will free up a bit more space by getting rid of a lot of spares including wheels. Hopefully that will happen in the next couple of months. I did look on line on FBM and there are a fair selection of floor mounted shop presses for sale. I'm guessing all those folks who find they used them once and then they just hung around gathering dust.

Good discussion and great alternates to the tool guys! Thanks for sharing the ingenuity.

Neil.

I mounted my vice and a cheap drill press guide on my press so that it serves three functions. That’s the magic number for anything in my life , it has to have three functions or more to buy.

$150 press, 10 uses, $15 per use but each use saves me hours of pounding and damaging stuff with hammers.

Last time it was pushing a stuck axle from a bad hub. 5 minutes