Pressed-In Ball Joint Stuck? Press Kits, Adaptors or a New Arm

The old ball joint is pressed into the wishbone or knuckle and won’t shift, or the new one went in crooked. The fix is cups that suit the joint, any circlip out first and a square push; on some vehicles, a kit lets the arm stay on.

The ball joint tools range at PartsForMachines has 44 products from Sykes Pickavant, Sealey and Draper. They run from splitters and separators to on-vehicle press kits for vans, 4x4s and cars, plus dust boots and a play detector.

Pressed In or Bolted: Can I Press the Ball Joint Out on the Car?

Yes, if the joint is pressed in and an on-vehicle kit is made for your vehicle. Some joints are bolted or riveted in place, and some are built into the arm, so the whole arm is replaced. A pressed-in joint needs a press to remove and refit.

Either the arm comes off for a bench press, or the press comes to the joint. The 082560V2 Transit ball joint tool, for example, changes the lower front joints on Transits from about 2000, Custom included, without a big strip-down.

Adaptors Won’t Sit on the Knuckle: Which Press Kit Do I Need?

One made for your vehicle. Every press kit in our range is made for particular vehicles, so match the make, model, year and joint before you order. Whichever kit you use, the receiving cup must be big enough for the joint to pass into and rest firmly on the arm.

The 187403V3 Sprinter ball joint adaptor set covers Sprinters from 1995 on and the VW Crafter and LT, with a cup for popular non-original arms. It works with the 187000V2 press frame and 12-tonne ram (not included).

Ball Joint Won’t Press Out or Binds Halfway: What’s Wrong?

The set-up may be at fault, so check it before adding force. Take out any circlip or snap ring first, then check you have the right cups and the tooling is square to the joint. If it binds part-way, stop and recheck the alignment.

Don’t go back to the hammer; keep the force coming from the press. For a stubborn Discovery 2 or P38 swivel joint, the 18771100 swivel ball joint kit includes adaptors, a press frame and a hydraulic ram, which Sykes Pickavant rates at 12 tonnes of controlled force.

Replace Just the Pressed-In Ball Joint or the Whole Wishbone?

You can replace just the joint if the arm and its bushes are sound: a pressed-in joint is pressed out of the arm and a new one pressed in. Where the joint is part of the arm, a new arm is the only option.

Replacing just the joint needn’t mean taking the arm off. On the Movano, Master and Interstar, for example, the 187512V3 kit changes the upper and lower joints on the van without removing the whole knuckle.

What Should I Check Before I Buy a Ball Joint Press Kit?

• how the joint is held: pressed in, bolted, riveted or part of the arm
• which joint it is (upper or lower, front or rear) and whether the arm is original or a replacement, as some kits have a separate cup for replacement arms
• what’s in the case: adaptors only, or a frame and ram too (compare the 18771000, 18771200 and 18771100)
• how you’ll drive it: by spanner or ratchet, or with a ram you own (the 082560V2 takes the maker’s 12-tonne ram)
• the joint’s size and the room around it, against the kit’s cups

Not sure which kit fits? Browse the ball joint tools range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the vehicle, year and a photo of the joint.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell a ball joint is worn before I order parts?

Check it for play. An axle play detector such as the 08085000 pushes the fitted wheel sideways and fore and aft while you watch the joints, bushes and tie rods. Play beyond the vehicle maker’s limit means a new joint.

The new joint went in crooked: how do I get it to sit flush?

Stop rather than forcing it. Press it back out and clean the bore. Start the joint as straight as you can, with the cups lined up, and keep pressing until it is fully seated.

Can a big G-clamp and sockets do the job instead of a press kit?

Use a press if you can: pressed-in joints need one. Any rig must do what a kit does: a cup the joint can pass into, resting squarely on the arm, with the pushing cup in line. If the sockets rock or slip, stop.

Do I need the alignment checked after fitting a new ball joint?

Yes. Have the wheel alignment, or tracking, checked after replacing a ball joint, and adjusted if needed. The same applies if you fitted a complete new arm instead of pressing in a joint.

The boot is split but the joint has no play: is a new boot enough?

Only if the joint is still tight and clean. Water and dirt get in through a split and speed wear, so if in doubt, fit a new joint. Covers such as the RJC01 dust cover pack, six in three sizes, suit otherwise sound joints.

I already have a press frame and ram: which Discovery 2 or P38 kit do I need?

The 18771000 adaptor set, which works with the maker’s 187-series press frame and 12-tonne ram. The 18771200 adds the frame and adaptor ring, and the 18771100 includes the ram as well. All three fit the Discovery 2 (1998–2004) and Range Rover P38 (1994–2002).

My BMW’s rear “bushes” are really ball joints: how are they changed?

With a press-fit joint tool, on the car. The VSE5509 rear ball joint tool presses out and fits these joints on the 5 Series E39 and 7 Series E38 without removing the subframe or taking the car to a press shop.

Can the VW T4 upper ball joint be changed without stripping the front end?

Yes. The VSE725 removes and refits the upper front joint in situ on 2.0 and 2.5-litre T4s. Its adaptors go together in different combinations to press the joint out and in, and each one is numbered in the case.

Which kit changes the front lower joints on a Mercedes S-Class, E-Class or SL?

The VS1274 removes and refits them in situ on the S-Class (1998–2006), E-Class (2002–2009) and SL (W230, 2002 on), and on the Renault Megane (2002–2008) with an 18mm ball pin. It turns with a ratchet and includes multipurpose sleeves.

Should I buy a press kit or have a garage press the arm?

For a single vehicle, taking the arm off and having a workshop press the joint can make sense. If you work on the same vans or 4x4s regularly, an on-vehicle kit saves stripping the knuckle, arm or axle each time.