Ranger Ball Joint

Has anyone had any experience in changing out a ball joint on a Ranger? From what I am reading, they can be a pain and didn't know if I would be better off to take it to the shop. Or possibly trying to find a ball joint press. Any tips? Thanks.

I dont know. I wouldnt think it was too hard and would go ahead and do it on my own. The dealer will be a tough bill.

If you take out that bolt thats in front of your finger and make sure there is no top nut then take a floor jack and lift the rotor up. It should come on out.

Thats my thoughts.....lets hear what others say. Maybe James will know too.

I just removed the control arm from my rzr and used a vise and a socket to press it out and the then press the new one in. If you put the ball joint in the freezer over night before pressing it in it will go in a lot easier.

It's not that big of deal...just take your time. Watch out for the clip that locks the ball joint in...it can slip off your snap ring pliers and go flying where ever and you could loose it.

Now you can change it with the control arm still on the machine but it's so much easier to just remove it andchange it on a bench and a vise.

That bolt that you are pointing at has to come all the way out. The stem of the ball joint has a concave surface that the bolt fits through. I just did mine. Tapped it out with a hammer and back in with a socket that fits the diameter of the ball joint. The hardest part is getting the snap ring back on.. Maybe a little penetrateing oil before you start. Use oem.

Awesome. Thanks guys. Some stories I read on some other boards had me a little scared. I don't have a huge selection of tools and not the most mechanically inclined, but I didn't think this should be too big of a job.

It will be ok. Worst that can happen is you tear it up. I have done that before and had to take it to the dealer to fix. You will be ok. Just take your time and dont get into a hurry. Good Luck!

Get some good snap ring pliers. (if there is such a thing anymore) Mine came from autozone. I use my press to press them out and back in, but you can do as rayray said and use a vise. If you get it seated all the way, the snap ring will go right on with no trouble.

If you think you would like to do stuff like wheel bearings in your autos and sxs, u-joints, and ball joints in the ranger, get you a shop press from Harbor Frieght. Mine paid for itself time and time again. If you take the control arm off and can't get any further, you can take it to a local auto repair shop/machine shop that has a press, and they will press the old one out and the new in for you. That should be much cheaper than the labor at the dealer. It's super fast and easy with the press. Just takes seconds.

Thanks for the advice. I do have an 84 chevy that I will be tinkering with and will be getting a rzr hopefully soon. I'm not a mechanic by any means but always looking to learn and save cash. Thanks for the help guys!

Something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

Was thinking about just getting a bench vise for now and a large socket. Didn't know if that would work or not.

A vise will work just fine... besides that, you will always need a vise for something or another. Don't forget to put the ball joint in the freezer over night...it will almost fall in. Also make sure after you remove the old one to clean the area where the ball joint seats.

mrwvsportsman wrote:

Thanks for the advice. I do have an 84 chevy that I will be tinkering with and will be getting a rzr hopefully soon. I'm not a mechanic by any means but always looking to learn and save cash. Thanks for the help guys!

Something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

Was thinking about just getting a bench vise for now and a large socket. Didn't know if that would work or not.

That will do the job on anything you get into on a sxs. IDK how it would do on the bigger stuff. I got the 20 ton, mainly to do axle, wheel, and carrier bearings on front/rearends. Less effort, and less scarry with the bigger press. Go ahead and get a nice vise, you are gonna need that to do anything. If nothing else, it's an extra set of hands when you need it.

I'm trying to buy the correct ball joint and looking at the superatv site there are 2 types one for models with Macphearson strut and one without....I don't think my ranger has the Macphearson strut. (I'm not too mechanically inclined.) 09 Ranger XP 700. But by looking at the design, I think it's the one that is not for Macphearson strut.



No Strut



Strut

your right it looks like the top pic, take a pic of the front shock and post it......

I talked to a guy at Super ATV and he said as long as it is the model with dual A arms, that is the correct one. Did some more reading and this is the model when they did away with the strut and went with the dual A arms. So it is the right one. Thanks!! Gotta get this fixed for my mother in law so I can get out and ride my new toy!