Ball joint replacement tips, got any? - IH PARTS AMERICA

You will want one of these tools ron:

ball joint tool for Dana 30/44 - International Scout parts

And of course the essential pb blaster or kroil (kroil is my go-to majik-juice).

Since you will have the axle sets out for u-joint service ya should also go ahead and replace the roller/needle bearing and seal inside each spindle (n=2 kits):

Dana 30 & 44 front axle spindle service kit - International Scout parts

Iirc you have already serviced the front hub bearing system and the locking hubs in the past, if not, now's the time for that also:

wheel bearing kit for 72'-80' Scout II, 74'-75' 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup and Travelall - International Scout parts

Ball joints (n=2 kits) are here:

ball joint set for Scout II, pickup, and Travelall(also fits GM, Ford, Jeep, & dodge d44 axles) - International Scout parts

Other than that it's straightforward but time consuming and dirty! Give yourself two good days with the ride out of service, one side will come apart real ez, the other side will be a bitch!

The only actual alignment that can be done if you are not using the offset-cam upper ball joint seats, is checking/correcting the toe-in.

However...if you have a good alignment guy you trust, you could have the alignment shot now if the ball joints are not totally whacked out and have the results printed for evaluation. Then alignment-dude May be able to recommend a value of an upper ball joint insert that can increase positive caster (no more than 1.5* though as a limit for those type parts) and I know you are capable of figuring that out yourself also. Look through this catalog, particularly the part number series inserts:

http://www.specprod.com/catalog_dir/parts_10.pdf

A full service alignment shop would have this type of service part on hand. But also, when using an insert other than a "0*" item (which is oem), the camber will also be affected to a degree. So by having alignment data before doing the ball joint service, and having a pro help ya with selecting the proper inserts (cal'cing caster/camber correction), you can improve overall alignment while ya have it torn down! Make sure you follow the instructions when you put everything back together. If you mess up the pre-load you will have it all apart again to do it right...

When you are taking it apart and are trying to get the old joints out don't be afraid to whack them with a big hammer. They are going in the garbage so why worry about them? But do not whack the new ones when you are putting it back together... Just thought I would post up a progress report:
drivers side: all went well the only "bad" part I found was the spindle needle bearing, dry as a bone. Ball joints were easier than I thought, old ones came out and new ones installed, new spindle bearing, wheel bearings, tie rod end and axle u-joint, all installed along with bilstien shock.

Passanger side: (different story) all came apart just fine. I found the axle u-joint would only flex one way, the lower ball joint could not move by hand and the tie rod end was shot, big time. This side is going back together but I ended up catching a cold and I had to reorder the axle u-joint thanks to our local napa store.
Jeff is sending me a different set of front bilstiens the first set was apperantly a little to long for my Scout.

I hope to have it all back together this weekend, then in for alignment.

To some up, having never done ball joints before, not that hard, it is a good full 2 day job for the entire front end work I am doing.
Thanks for the tips and parts list.

Ron