Ball Joint and Control Arms (R51)

[racerken]

Hi,

I'm considering changing my own control arms with ball-joints.

One of my lower control arms are so corrosion welded that the adjustment cam bolt is frozen. Is this something which I can grind off and hammer the bolt thru or does someone recommend that I just pay the suspension guy.

I think I can manage the upper control arm because the nuts are higher up and don't get so much salt spray. My question here was which ball-joint tool is recommended?

Harbor Freight has one: http://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint ... -4065.html. $75.

Amazon has an 'OTC 7315A Universal Tie Rod End Remover' which looks similar to the Nissan recommended tool. $ 36.

KTC has one http://www.frankstools.com/ktctierodsea.html. $ 125. This one looks good since you can counter torque the tool base.
http://en.ktc.co.jp/products/catalog/pdf/AS201.pdf

I've been slowly conducting major major maintenance for the last month: (still up on stands, still in progress)
Plugs
Power Valve epoxy (get rid of the 2200 rpm buzz)
upper and lower radiator hose
radiator flush
thermostat
water pump
timing chain tensioner
idler pulley
serpentine belt
serpentine belt tensioner
fan clutch
fan clutch base (or whatever that triangular piece with the fan bearing thing is...)
transmission in=line filter
transmission fluid flush (twice because you can only get 4 liters out at a time)
transfer case fluid
front diff fluid
rear diff fluid
rear bumper/trailer hitch sand blast and powder coating. It looks really nice, too bad it's hidden.
rear coil springs
sway bar bushings and rod end connectors to frame.
re-clamped all the heat shields with Oetickers.

To do:
front up/low control arms
O2 sensor




Thanks.

[donald]

Not sure of your location, but if you have an O'Reilly's or Pep Boys auto parts store nearby, they actually loan ball joint presses. I don't know about the other tools you're looking at, but I loaned a ball joint press from them to do my u joints ... I just didn't do it yet while waiting for new bolts to arrive.