i asked in the truck section but i didn`t get any responce. i need to put a new lower ball joint in my truck but i`m not sure how to get the old ball joint out, the half shaft seems to be in the way. do i need to take it out? how do i do this? i know the ball joint is pressed in and must be chisled/hammered out. how do i get it out?

The 1/2 shaft dosent need to come out.But get an upper B joint also.I just did them in my Durango.Take the brakes off.Undo both ball joints and lay the spindle on the frame.Then just move the shaft forward and you need a press to get the ball joint in and out.The upper shoud be rivited and you have to chisel the head off and bolt the new one in.I just had to tap a little crimp off my bottom ball joint.They have a snapring that goes on the new one and some of the old ones also have a snapring.Just make sure the new snap ring faces inside or the knuckle can pop it off.I did all 4 on mine in about an hour at work.The press can be rented at like Advance in their loan a tool program.Id use either TRW or Moog.My upper was looking good until I pulled the lower so I changed them all.Rocky

When I did mine on my 99 Dakota the axle shaft was bolted to a flange on the axle. I just removed the six bolts and the nut at the hub, with the upper ball joint disconnected I just slipped tha axle out.

I then removed the spindle by disconnecting the lower ball joint. To remove the lower joint you need a ball joint press. It looks like a giant C-clamp.

It took about an hour to replace both the upper and lower joints on one side.