How to Remove an Upper Ball Joint on Trucks

Replacing the upper ball joints in your truck can be a tough experience if you don't know what you are doing. With a little direction, some basic tools and a general understanding of the front end on your truck, you can save time and money by replacing the upper ball joint yourself.

Instructions

1

Secure the front end of the truck by properly lifting it with a floor jack and placing the jack stands underneath the center of the front end of the vehicle. Don't place them under the control arms, as you will be working in this area.

2

Remove the wheel by breaking loose all the lug nuts first, then removing them and lifting the wheel off. Set these aside and put the lug nuts in a safe and flat place such as on a magnetic tray that will help prevent them from getting lost.

3

Slip a pickle fork between the spindle and the ball joint and hammer it into place. The hammering will break the seal the ball joint forms with the tension it causes on itself. Then place the pickle fork into the seal and continue hammering. The goal is to break the mechanical weld. This may take some considerable hammering.

4

Move on to indexing and removing the upper control arms. This will carry you along through the disassembly process of removing the upper ball joint and on your way to installing the new upper ball joint.