I'm mechanically inclined. I like tinkering with, well, everything. Since I was small I liked taking things apart. More than that, if something stumps me, I'll work on it until I figure it out.
I used to like working on cars. Not anymore. I mean, I can do most things myself and I have most of the necessary tools. Specialty tools I can usually get from the local parts store. But I'm not the spring chicken I once was and being hot, sweaty and irritated is not my thing anymore.
Thursday
My wife told me her Jeep Wrangler needed ball joints. Since it has 190K on it, it was reasonable and not just some mechanic trying to milk some business. I wasn't going to pay $800 to get it done though. I mean, how hard can it be? There are only 5 bolts and 3 nuts to remove/replace (10 and 6 counting both sides). The local parts store has the ball joint tool (to press out/in the ball joints) and loans it for free. What could possibly go wrong?
Friday
The lock on my safe breaks which created its own panic. Did nothing on the Jeep on Friday.
Saturday
I get started on the Jeep around 9AM. Everything starts off easy.
- Wheel is easy.
- The connecting rod comes out easy.
- The brake comes off easy.
- The drive shaft bolts aren't seized and the shaft comes right out. The nuts on the old ball joins come right off.
- The steering knuckle is on pretty tight, but with a fork and a hammer, it comes off relatively easy.
Now the fun starts. I put the ball joint tool, which is a puzzle to get set up properly, on the first ball joint and start applying pressure. This is basically just a giant C clamp. Wow, is this thing tight. Oh, I'm pushing it the wrong way. Duh. Turn everything around, get the right set up, but it's still not moving. My wife asks if I need a pipe. "Why yes darlin', that would be nice!" She's so thoughtful. Put the pipe on the end of the 1/2" drive ratchet and wonder of wonders, it starts moving. A few more cranks and one is out, three to go.
The lower one is more challenging because I didn't jack the Jeep high enough. We fix that. Configure the ball joint tool correctly and start applying pressure. Man, this one is much tighter than the upper. Take the tool loose and realize that I had it positioned wrong. In stead of pressing on the ball joint, I was pressing on the bracket. Duh again! Get it lined up properly and start applying pressure, but this one isn't moving. I've got both hands on the wrench and both feet on the frame, pulling for all I'm worth and it's just not moving. OK, mess with me will ya? I'm getting the torch. Of course the propane bottle is empty. Ugh! Off to ACE for a new bottle. Start heating the bracket, apply a little more pressure. More heat, more pressure. Finally, I hear a PING and it starts moving. Hooray! Both are out.
Reconfigure the ball joint tool and start inserting the upper. Goes in as easy as you can expect, still took a lot of pressure. Start installing the lower, but it's going in crooked. It was only then I realize the tool doesn't fit it exactly and is off to one side. After 10 minutes of trying to figure out a different way, I settle for pressing one side, then the other. This works to get it started and then it goes in OK, but still takes a tremendous amount of force.
Whew, both are in. Re-assemble everything and go in for some water and rest. Did I forget something? Yes, I didn't torque the ball joint nuts properly. Fortunately for me I can reach them by just crawling under the Jeep.
Crisis averted, but I'm gassed. What I thought was going to take about 1-2 hours has taken a little over 4 hours and I've only done half. Tomorrow is another day.
Sunday
I don't set an alarm because I'm wasted from yesterday. Remarkably I awake around 7:30AM. I get dressed and head outside only to find my wife has already removed the wheel and brake caliper for the other side. Yeah baby, this is going to go easy! Famous last words.
I remove the steering joint and axle. They come out easy. Hmmm, just like yesterday....
This time the steering knuckle is more difficult to remove, but a really big hammer and some serious whacks and it lets go.
I start on the upper joint, but this one is really tight. Again, both feet on the frame, both hands on the wrench aaaaannnndddd it starts to move. Whahooo only one more to go.
I get the tool set up and make sure it's in the right place. I start cranking on the tool, but no movement. OK, hit it with some penetrating oil and let it sit; still nothing. Seriously, both hands on the wrench, both feet on the frame, but this one is not moving. We get the pipe. I'm pulling for all I'm worth and still nothing. Break out the torch and heat the bracket, pull for more than I'm worth; nothing. I seriously thought I was going to break this tool I'm pulling so hard and it's just not moving.
I got nothing left. I need a break so, I go chill in the house for a while. Left the tool on with full pressure applied. Come back out to the sound of my wife beating on it with a hammer. Hey, at least she was hitting it in the right spot. Still no movement. I'm thinking we'll just have to live with this one because it's not letting go. Just when I'm ready to give up, I decide to give it one more shot with the torch and pipe extension. Heat it up, pull with everything I've got and....PING, it's starts moving. That's the last.
The new ones go in with relative ease. I say "relative" because it still takes a lot of muscle and I don't have a lot. Another 4 hours of work today.
Got it all back together (didn't forget to torque the nuts) and go for a test drive. Wonder of wonders, it's driving much better than it was. The old joints were obviously worse than I thought because the ride is dramatically better.
If you've read this far, I'm sorry there was no catastrophe to entertain you more. Still, this was one of the hardest jobs I've done and I've done a lot. The moral of the story is, it's probably better to just pay the mechanic. They have better tools, a lift and more experience. I saved $600, but it will take a day or two to recover.
Now, about that safe....
