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Are there any alternatives (besides a pipe wrench) to using the Howe's or Joe's brand of ball joint sockets for a Howe ball joint? I'm not ready to cough up $84 for an upper and lower ball joint socket at the moment. I know Sunex makes ball joint sockets but I don't know what sizes to get.
A giant crescent wrench or wehrs makes a double ended wrench for them but honestly your better off buying the sockets
Yeah I'd rather use a socket and do it right. Sunex makes ball joint sockets that will work, however I do not know the size. Howe & Joes do not list the size like the Sunex shown below.Quote:
Originally Posted by hucktyson
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sx...FaxQOgodoSUASA
If the control arm is off the car put the balljoint in a vice and pull on the control arm until its tight. They are still Chrysler ball joints check tool companys like lisle to see if they still make the sockets there are only two sizes large and small upper is small lower is large. Otherwise snap-on still makes them but I'm sure they cost even more than the joes ones.
I took two 2" long pieces of 1-1/2"x1-1/2"x1/8" angle and stood them up with an old ball joint between them. Cut a flat square plate and sat it on top and welded it to both pieces of angle and then welded the angles to each other down the sides. Welded a 3/4" nut on top of the plate. I'm not a welder so it looks like crap but works great with an impact gun. Cost me a couple of hours.
Cool idea. I love homemade low buck ideas like this.
There a local guy around these parts with a laser jet that can easily make a spanner wrench following a templet you made of cardboard. A plasma cutter could do the same quicker but would probably need clean up work with a flap disk or belt sander. I'm guessing it would be less than $84. Half that is more likely.
I just ran into some new style howe joint back in November, the dealer didn't know anything about it it was still a Chrysler Lower but the cap where you set the Stud Preload was different and I didn't have the tool for it has anyone run into this? The rest was still the usual Howe Housing
This is what I needed to know. So simply put there are two different sizes, one large and one small and they are the same for most all screw in ball joints. I measured both ball joints last night it looks like a 1 59/64 socket will fit the top and 2 9/64 will fit the bottom. I'm probably guessing these are the sizes of the Howe and Joe's, they just don't come out and state that. I know I can tighten with a spanner wrench or pipe wrench, but would rather torque it down to spec.Quote:
Originally Posted by wisdirtfan
wehrs sell a dual box end style wrench for the uppers/lowers for $40...well worth the money in every way...nice looking piece to boot!
Thanks 6w .... Never would have known about the wehrs wrench if you didnt mention it lol
I found that Summit Racing sells the sockets for $16 each.
http://www.sears.com/otc8034-chrysle...ype=SKIP_LEVEL
Here is the one I bought from sears that fits just fine. Wish I had found the $16 one instead of paying $60 for it.
That site I posted, ToolTopia.com, is usually one of the cheapest places I've found for name brand hand tools and equipment. I use them a lot for supplies for my class.