[ttodd1292]

OK, i got around to putting on my suspension lift. I got the rear shackles on easily but im stuck on the front upper control arm installation. It says in the instructions on step 4 "With ball joint puller or fork, separate the upper ball joint and the a-arm from the spindle." I don't have a puller or fork is there any other to get the ball joint off the upper control arm?

heres were im at:

thanks for any help.

 

[colin123]

you can get a ball joint separator from autozones loan a tool for $13 that you'll get back when you take the tool back

 

[xjwalt666]

If you are replacing the arm just pound on the threaded portion of the balljoint with a hammer to pop it out.

 

[HKYStormFront]

if you hammer on the spindle it will pop out

 

[4xer]

Take the ball joint nut almost all the way off just one or two threads, raise the truck so the suspension is all the way down free hanging w/ just the frame suported, then take a bfhammer and hit the spindle parallel next to where the ball joint goes through the spindle a few times, should work!

 

[hunterdan]

Take the ball joint nut almost all the way off just one or two threads, raise the truck so the suspension is all the way down free hanging w/ just the frame suported, then take a bfhammer and hit the spindle parallel next to where the ball joint goes through the spindle a few times, should work!

X2, it does work. Did it yesterday.

Dan

 

[ttodd1292]

thanks guys ill hav to try this next time. its pretty much smooth sailing from this point on right? just gotta put the new ones on all greased up correct?

Also it says something about a sensor wire and i have no idea what its talkin about. any have any idea what that is?

2) Unbolt the bolt that attaches sensor wire to upper control arm.

12) Secure the sensor wire with two zip ties to the a-arm right below the point the ball joint mounts. Keep it away from the bump stops allowing enough slack in the wire for a-arm travel. Install new shock absorber provided. Lower and remove the jack from under the a-arm.

 

[xjwalt666]

Its for if you have abs

 

[ttodd1292]

got it on there today. thanks for yalls help

 

[ttodd1292]

alright so I went to get it aligned today, they spent five hours on it and told me its impossible. These people I know and they know what they are doing the have the right equipment and everything. I called AC and they told me to take it to a 4x4 shop and get them to do the alignment because they know how to do it on lifted vehicles unlike the one i took it to. So i called a 4x4 shop. they said they couldn't do it. The good news is the first shop i took it too didn't charge me any money for working five hours on my truck:fantastic:

But what to do now? the next 4x4 shop is like in another state. Is it bad for me to drive it like this? Theres a guy on here named dan that did this, hes hasnt been on here in awhile but this is what his looks like finished and his camber looks like mine did when i told them to align it, but they let my t-bars back down.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

 

[LoopOut]

I don't know much about 1st gen frontiers. Well next to nothing actually. But after I lifted my 06 with coilovers, my tires looked opposite yours. Luckily I had purchased the LCA adjustable cam bolts too, which is what saved me. Before getting it aligned I asked Brutal his thoughts. He said it's ok to have a bit of camber and would not be a problem. However after getting it aligned I noticed that the shop I took it too was able to get everything lookin proper. After a closer look it seems that the cam bolts in combination with other adjustments made it possible.

I don't know if this has helped at all, but I guess what im trying to say is Adjustable Cam Bolts were my saving grace. I don't know if 1st gens even have/use them though, so idk.