720 Ball Joint Replacement Thread

1980-1986 Datsun 720 forums. All 720-specific topics and discussion can be found here.
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fastboatman29212
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This article covers the process of replacing the Nissan 720 pickup ball joints, from start to finish - Enjoy, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask them here in the thread!

720 Ball Joint Replacement DIY Article

Thanks!
Last edited by fastboatman29212 on Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:38 pm, edited 5 times in total.


Steveka24det
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wow very nice write up :dblthumb:

86 720
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Great write up! Will consult this when I need to do this myself...

Only suggestion I would make is to replace the torsion rod bushings since the rods need to be removed anyway. Having access to the two bolts while the ball joints are out would make it that much easier.

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fastboatman29212
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86 720 wrote:Only suggestion I would make is to replace the torsion rod bushings since the rods need to be removed anyway. Having access to the two bolts while the ball joints are out would make it that much easier.
I think you mean the Tension Rods, right? They go from the front of the frame to the lower control arm at an angle and have bushings where they bolt to the frame.

You are correct, but I tried to keep the post from wandering into other issues like sway bar, shocks, bearings, etc. They all would be more accessible "while you are there". I'll let people decide what else they want to do at the time they do the ball joints.

86 720
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fastboatman29212 wrote:
86 720 wrote:Only suggestion I would make is to replace the torsion rod bushings since the rods need to be removed anyway. Having access to the two bolts while the ball joints are out would make it that much easier.
I think you mean the Tension Rods, right? They go from the front of the frame to the lower control arm at an angle and have bushings where they bolt to the frame.

You are correct, but I tried to keep the post from wandering into other issues like sway bar, shocks, bearings, etc. They all would be more accessible "while you are there". I'll let people decide what else they want to do at the time they do the ball joints.
I've noticed that there are several names for the rod, my book says torsion rod, I have another book that reads compression rod!

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Charlie69
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Great write up & pictures. How about a write up on lowering, re-indexing 520 & 521 torsion bars. They are different then the 620 & 720 set ups.

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fastboatman29212
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I'll leave the 620 threads to be done by people who own them. I really don't know anything about them so I certainly can't post stuff about them.

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breadbox
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Nice Write up. Got any part numbers you wanna put up here?

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fastboatman29212
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the link below should work. They are the same ones I installed. They are on sale again!!!

That's CRAZY CHEAP!!! Only $39.43 for all 4 ball joints delivered!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Lower- ... odel%3A720
Last edited by fastboatman29212 on Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Charlie69
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Great point Breadbox.

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fastboatman29212
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OK, check one of my posts earlier for the Link to eBay for the ball joints. On second thought, here it is again.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Lower- ... odel%3A720

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breadbox
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also the knuckle on 4WD is a bit different. so from illustrations the lower ball joint could be the same. but IDK for sure.

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fastboatman29212
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If you check their eBay store, I think they have ball joints for 4WD too.

noface
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I bought a set of those for my sons 85 720 4x4... great deal considering the local AutoZone wants $120 for all 4.

They're the same for 2wd and 4wd...

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Rev_D21
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Excellent write-up!

NorskeMann82
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I wish this was available when I did the upper and lower ball joints on mine. That was a pain in the rear. Having my father-in-law "helping" wasn't that great either. Even when I was doing things right, I was wrong. LOL

flinterman2000
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Great Idea. This write up is way better than the one I did for the changing of the tail light lens. Thanks Breadbox for separating the typing. Lets all help by doing a write up in one form or the other. :bowrofl:

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brianzero
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I just bought all 4 ball joints for $80. I should do the 4x4 balljoint DIY. There are some extra things to remove, like the front axles...

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fastboatman29212
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That would be a great resource for anyone with a 4 X 4. I'll look forward to seeing your post.

PAPADREW
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Sick Slides for the Ball Joint Replacement!!...Respect to your for doing it on your own and learning it...I'm going to do mine soon.

Just purchased an 1984 720 SingleCab Long Bed out here in Vegas

I LOVE it so much already....Love hitting the Pick a part and fixing things here and there.

Just got new tires today 205 65R15's drives sooo much smoother

:cool:

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pistolkeith
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Dear Fastboatman, in order to replace the shocks in the front, i need to remove the hub from the upper and lower control arm right?

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fastboatman29212
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Sorry, to say, but I really don't know
pistolkeith wrote:Dear Fastboatman, in order to replace the shocks in the front, i need to remove the hub from the upper and lower control arm right?
Sorry, but I really don't know the answer. I would think you could replace the shocks WITHOUT removing the hub, but I've never done it. Let us know what you end up doing.

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pistolkeith
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if i jack it up and remove all load off the hub, that removes all load from the shock absorber right? i saw a video on youbtube of a gentleman replacing his 93 Toyota pickup and he still had his hub on. he undid the top bolt and them the bottom and it just slid out. i assum that would be the same. ill give it a look and see how i go :)

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fastboatman29212
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pistolkeith wrote:if i jack it up and remove all load off the hub, that removes all load from the shock absorber right? i saw a video on youbtube of a gentleman replacing his 93 Toyota pickup and he still had his hub on. he undid the top bolt and them the bottom and it just slid out. i assum that would be the same. ill give it a look and see how i go :)
That should work.

jackspade21
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So I am just finishing up this very procedure on my truck, but didn't have the forethought to leave one bolt in between the lower arm/ball joint and the tension rod. Now the holes through the tension rod-lower arm-lower ball joint are off by about 1/4". Any advice on getting them lined back up? I am considering using a long bar clamp to pull the lower control arm toward the front of the vehicle. Any thoughts?

BTW, very nice write-up! It was a great help!

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fastboatman29212
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It will be extra work, but less frustrating to undo the lower ball joint installation and get things lined up properly. That would be better than stripping threads or twisting off a bolt head.

valentine.markd
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I will be attempting this repair on both upper and lower ball joints on both sides tonight. Thanks for the write up and I will let you know how it goes.

valentine.markd
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I was able to do the upper ball joints on both sides of my 720 4x4 last night and replace the shocks! The truck rides like new.

The uppers were about the same as noted above. The difference is that there is an axle in the way so the working space is limited. Here are a couple before pictures.

Image

Image

Image

The bottom ball joints are going to be a bit different. There is no tension rod connected to the bottom but I do have to remove the torsion bar.

I will post some pictures when I get to replacing the bottom joints.

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UPDATE: Thanks to fastboatman, all of the pictures are now permanently hosted and archived forevermore!

Check the first post in this thread for the article, and feel free to bookmark it, share it, and ask any questions here...

Oh, and how about a huge "THANK YOU" to fastboatman for such a great DIY! :dblthumb: :mike :bigthumb:

bahtsata
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Does anyone know what size socket it takes to remove lower ball joint castle nut? That is the only tool that i am missing from getting this done, and I do not want to purchase random sockets. Thank you in advance!


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