[Orvis25]

So I am working on my TRX300FW rebuild and I needed to knock in some ball joints on my front left/right A frame arms (or whatever they are called).

I found out that its a very tight squeeze because there are some metal parts that almost directly impede a socket going over the ball joint flushly and prevents me from punting a proper sized socket over it without damaging the rubber boot.

So after like 20 minutes, I found this ironic trick. Use a older "Mag light" flashlight aluminium tube (buy one broken or something). It fits EXACTLY over the rubber boot, and flushly on the metal rim of the ball joint so you wont scrape the metal or rubber boot.

Hope this helps!

PS: this may damage your tube, so do not do this with a new one or one you want to keep.

 

[retro]

That is a good one! But old maglights are hard to find nowadays. The boot is pressed onto the ball joint and can easily be pried off without damaging them. You'll need to pack them with better grease anyway... So, once you get those boots off many common shop junk/tubing/pipe/china socket etc., will work to press them in using a vise or a hammer.

 

[Orvis25]

That is a good one! But old maglights are hard to find nowadays. The boot is pressed onto the ball joint and can easily be pried off without damaging them. You'll need to pack them with better grease anyway... So, once you get those boots off many common shop junk/tubing/pipe/china socket etc., will work to press them in using a vise or a hammer.

Ya I considered that, but mine were like glued on (they wont come off easily, so i did not want to break the seal).

Thanks for the tip, but this is for those i guess who do not want to risk damaging their boot seals by ripping them off and just want the ball joint's installed.

 

[Jeepwm69]

That is a good one! But old maglights are hard to find nowadays. The boot is pressed onto the ball joint and can easily be pried off without damaging them. You'll need to pack them with better grease anyway... So, once you get those boots off many common shop junk/tubing/pipe/china socket etc., will work to press them in using a vise or a hammer.

I've caught 9 kinds of heck trying to get the boots back on when they've come off.

What do you use to get the boot back on without damaging it? I've actually tossed a couple of new ball joints because I ruined the boot trying to get it back on.

 

[retro]

I just push them back on with a socket. On some joints I have to hit the socket a few times with a rubber hammer. I've never split one open yet, but that day will soon come I'm sure. I break way too many rules being a cheapskate.

 

[fishfiles]

The right size pipe is out there , here are two ways to do a ball joint with pipe and not take the boots off ------------- one in the vise for the knuckle joint and one on the bike on the arm , you can take the a-arm off the bike and do it in the vise also or use a c-clamp

 

[fishfiles]

the pics didn't come out , the site is messed up again

 

[_Wilson_]

Yep having forum issues here too

 

[retro]

Same problems posting here, forums are hit & miss again.