Has anyone used the OTC kits from Sears? The one I was looking at had the C clamp and sleeves, but I don't see how you get that in there on a 71 Charger to get the joints loose. Any reccomendations that are affordable? Thanks

The kit from Sears is used to press ball joints out. Since your upper ball joints on your Charger are threaded, they must be turned out with a special socket and breaker bar. Do not attempt to use the kit from Sears.

Are we talkin' upper balljoints?

Yes, he is talking about the uppers.

If you use a press you will ruin the control arms. Get the right socket.

Actually I am talking about seperating the joints not the removal of the ball joint, upper and lower. Sorry. Got to be an easier way than using a pickle fork.

The C clamp tool will not do that either. At work I seperate them from the spindle either with a pickle fork atttachment in my air hammer or simply by smacking the spindle with a BFH.

A couple good hits are usually all it takes just remember to remove the nut completly first, then rethread it back on a few threads so things don't get out of control.

agree-- with the big F hammer + "pickle fork"


replacing : If they are screw out ball joints like the A body upper.....get out the torch and a 6 FOOT "breaker" .

Thats what it took on my dart

take 2 bfh's . place 1 on the joint then smack the 1st hammer with the 2nd-- this leaves less markings on the car. L

on the upper take out the cotter key & loosen the castellated nut several turns & whack it in the side w a bfh & the suspension being in tension will pull them apart then undo everything & go from there

You can rent (for free, with a deposit) a ball joint press and a removal kit from Advance Auto that each have all the tools you'll need.