A Complete and Detailed Guide to replacing your Jeep's Ball Joints. Applies to Jeep Cherokee (XJ) 84-01, Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) 93-98, Jeep Wrangler (YJ, TJ and LJ) 87-06, and Jeep Comanche (MJ) 86-92.
Owning a 20 year old TJ means you better learn how fix things yourself or you are going to be wasting a lot of money. This is by far the best Jeep repair video I have watched. Just did the upper and lower ball joints on the driver side yesterday. I had this video on the tv in the garage and just followed right along. I was dealing with a bit more rust but I got the job done. Successfully completing this project motivated me to do some other much needed maintenance items. Going to do the passenger side today and will try leaving the axle nut on this time. Thanks for putting this together. It seriously saved me a ton of money and it was fun too!
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I really love the fact that you put on the screen what size sockets and wrenches to use even after you say it, that goes a long way for a lot of people! And I love the fact that you outline or mark the parts with the white lines and include the names, very helpful and informative! Great work!
Very informative, thank you. This really helped me get the job done on my '03 TJ. However, for those of you, like myself, who are changing ball joints to get rid of 'death wobble', should do yourself a favor and check your front hubs (bearings) before you take the tires off. Once the vehicle is lifted, hold the tire at 12 and 6 and see if there's any vertical play and dull metal tapping sound while jiggling it. This was the culprit on my driver's side vibrations and I only discovered it AFTER complete reassembly, so I had to take it back off all the way to the axle. Still, it was worth it, I'm riding as smooth as a Wrangler can, which is not smooth at all but with no wobble.
This is how you make a HOWTO video. Great technical detail, lighting, editing, text/graphic overlays. Harry Connick Jr. can play piano and replace ball joints, too! 👍
If you're just replacing ball joints you can leave the axle nut on and pull the hub assembly and shaft as one piece. Saves the hassle of removing then re-torquing the nut.
Thanks for the vid. Got bored during Pandemic Lockdown and I pulled my 99 TJ out of the garage after not driving it in 3-4 years because I didn't feel like replacing the cracked exhaust manifold. So I did that without issue one weekend. Next weekend did a roadside repair of a faulty CPS, and noticed my right front brake was squeaking/dragging. So here I am in week 3 doing brakes and find my steering knuckle has the dreaded pad indents/grooves on the slide causing the pads to hang. So ordering steering knuckle replacements, wheel hub assembly, rotors and pads and ball joints since i have it all apart, i might as well knock it all out. Thanks for the clear vid, just what the Doctor ordered for everything i have to do.
that's the best ball joint video I have watched yet. I'm a idiot when it comes to that kind of thing and you made it crystal clear. Thank you very much I had your video playing the whole time I did mine and it went perfectly smooth
Really good step-by-step video of the ball joint replacement - nice job. As others have noted, many of us own crusty Jeeps where these components are heavily rusted. For those doing this for the first time with rusty parts: If you can't get the old ball joints to move using the press, you will need to heat up the 'C' metal the ball joints are being held by using a torch (a hand torch with a MAP gas bottle will work). First take a wire wheel and remove surface rust as must as you can, then apply penetrating oil like PB Blaster and let it soak in awhile. Next, use the torch, avoid applying direct heat to the ball joint itself as much as possible. You shouldn't need to get the metal 'cherry red' with the torch, but you will need to get the metal fairly hot, and the ball joints should break loose. Note - do NOT apply heat with the ball joint press mounted. Heat the metal first, then assemble the press over the ball joints and push them out. Use gloves to avoid getting burned (and safety glass too). My old very crusty ball joints would not budge without heat. For installation, use caution with heat when installing new ball joints, as the heat could damage the ball joint. You shouldn't need heat to re-install, though it may make it easier to press in. Some ball joints have an internal plastic component that will melt at high enough temps - with removal, this doesn't matter, but installation, you don't want to ruin a new ball joint using too much heat. Some have recommended the combination of freezing the ball joint, and heating the 'C' metal to ease installation - it will work, but if you use the heat to excess, then you run the risk of ruining the new ball joint. Good luck
Hands down the best instructional video I have seen. The printed tech data was an awesome bonus. Please do more as I have an 05 LJ Rubicon I will follow your lead on my vehicle
Great how-to video showing each step. Thanks for taking the time to make and publish. Need to service the front-end on our 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ and this will be my reference video. Thanks again!
Great video! Probably the most informative and well shot one I've seen lately. Love that this was done on an LJ! As an LJ owner myself, it's hard not to love this video.
Absoltuely great video, has helped me so much... but also I did not unbolt the hub from the axle, as recommended by another commentor. You made my job so much easier! Nice professionalism, great directions, great filming, no profanity like others who feel need to be more of a man I guess, so no worries about my kids being around. Well done.
best video I have ever seen. Step by step. I followed your video and with another and was able to replace my sway bars and ends front and back track bar front and back, upper lower ball joints all wheels, breaks, tie bar ends, dampener and upper tie rod saved a ton of money and learned everthing I needed about suspensions THANKS!
One of the best informative videos I've seen yet; fantastic job: clear, concise and to the point. Nice touch having all the necessary socket sizes and torques included in the video. Much appreciated.......
Just subscribed after watching and taking notes. Congratulations, on taking the time and patience to add all the details, i.e. bolt and nuts tool sizing, a helpful addition, that some others miss which, all told, makes your video on ball joints informative and useful. Add to that, you also include tips for the other required, R&R ancillaries, culminating in a well made tutorial for the diy at home Jeep enthusiast. Thank you!
Quite informative and thorough presentation on how to do ball joints. Makes me want to try this on my own. Was initially looking for information on the loose bolt on the axle of the track bar on my 93 Wrangler.
Great instructional video! I see the value of separating the axle from the hub as it makes it lighter and easier to manage. He took great care to not contaminate the axle splines which would be more difficult to align without scraping the inside of the axle housing. Someone with bigger stronger Popeye forearms and wrists could do it, but not me. Great job! Hope to see more videos?
something very simple guys- don't use a differential as a lifting point. Differentials are not designed to be lifted from and yes they do crack. Use the FRAME to lift the vehicle every time, no exception.
Thank you very much for making this video I just bought my first Jeep and I am brand new to this world thank you for going into the extra detail because now I know how all the other parts work I hope you choose to make more videos
Great Video, helped a lot when replacing my TJ ball joints. Gave me the confidence I needed to complete the job vs paying someone $$$$ in labor for no reason. I replaced the wheel bearing & Bolts, and spline u joint while i had everything off so i don't have to worry about it later though. With all of that plus the ball joint press and Mopar adapter (Definatly need, find on Amazon) i am still way ahead of what a shop wanted to charge!
One of the best vids I've watched. Great audio, camera work. Nice speed for covering the work being done. My first time watching you and it made me a subscriber!
Nice vid, thanks. I have a ZJ 'Princess' (Orvis) and I'm with you on that; -it's all about care. She's my little Sweetheart so she gets TLC and she usually needs it. I don't cut corners and everything goes back clean and properly aligned the first time (makes no sense to have to do it over, do it right the first time). Thanks again
Great video. Lots of help when I was ready to do mine. Now the important question... What are the parts numbers for that massive ball joint press and those adapters?
