ball joint tool kit

[Jodi]

I think the are all the same. I have a Matco kit that looks the same as the OTC at work and the same as pictured.

This tool is probably 30 years old and still going strong.
Tools nowadays are pretty much the same, all look a like and made in... if you know what I mean . It's the hardness and tempering that is lacking in todays tools IMHO.

 

[biker]

Yep. Matco, Mac and OTC are all excellent. The chinese rubber metal ones look the same, but the frames will bend and the threads will gall under the pressures that you use to pop ball joints out.

 

[Crosby]

Yeah so it turns out mine is not OTC after all.. I got it from Jegs, and it's actually still in good shape overall but doesn't have the right pieces for my Camaro. I had to rent another kit at Advanced Auto to get my Jeep (04 Rubicon) done recently, bought the Jegs kit for my 05 K2500HD, and it worked good for that. I think I need the OTC add-on kit, but it doesn't say at all what it does and doesn't fit. Plus, even though I've measured the rough size of the ball joints and holes, the kits don't say what size the adapters are. OTC does make a guide for applications, but it's $65 and only in actual print form.... I'm sure I am overanalyzing the whole deal, but I will give OTC a call when they are open tomorrow to see if they can tell me which add-on kit is best. I wish I had bought the OTC basic kit instead of the JEGS (no name?) but it seems to be holding up pretty well. I will update this thread in case anyone else is being as ridiculous as I am someday ha ha! Thanks guys! By the way, I did buy a used shop press today, which may or may not help - I do have all four control arms off my 73 Camaro. I'm debating if I should just bite the bullet and buy a decent tubular control arm kit while I am spending all this time and energy rebuilding the subframe. I'm not sure how much it will improve the handling or not? They seem pretty pricey but of course I am putting a good amount of money in the car and don't want to cheap out either? Lately I have been thinking just get it back together in one piece and I can then buy crazy aftermarket suspension and stuff when I have nothing better to do with my money... I think the price of new ball joints and springs etc. might offset a good portion of that cost of the tubular kit anyhow?

 

[Gasoholic]

This is the one I got, its the Power built master set.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI48PK8Nqy7gIVhRh9Ch3E_QBfEAQYAiABEgJTa_D_BwE

I didn't get mine from Summit though. I think the price is about what I paid though. Its a good set. I'm a fleet mechanic and I use it alot.
The OTC master set is the best. But twice the money. It comes in two cases. Has pretty much everything you will ever need. Last time I checked I believe the entire OTC master set was over 400$ and was special order.

 

[budro6968]

anybody have any recommendations for a good ball joint/bushing removal kit? I have an OTC kit I bought a while back but it doesn't have the right adapters for the (73) Camaro ball joints and bushings. If you have a part/kit number that would be great. I'm not looking for Snap-On quality, but want to buy something decent that will last... it seems noone really lists what they fit/work on. Thank you for any help you can provide!

Check your parts store. They might rent them for free like mine does. Just have to use a credit card to check it out. If you bring it back undamaged it is free. The old school way at least for the Lower on most of our older GM I used a floor jack under the lip of the control arm. Ran piece of stiff wire in the eye of the stud like a loop Held it steady and bashed on the stud with a 3lb Sledge. Usually took a couple good solid hits to bust it loose. Then used the jack again a piece of pipe that fit the edge. Banged it in hitting the lip of the control arm to get started and then knocked it in to seat from under. Just hit the edge so you don't smash the grease fitting hole. Sounds like cave man stuff. But when you young and broke you find ways to get it done.