OTC is what I recommend.



https://www.otctools.com/products/ball-joint-service-kit

 

I bent a cheaper one from amazon. I bought an OTC and finished the job. I use it for more the ball joints. Well worth the money. Perfect for installing wheel studs when replacing rear axle shafts. Just help a buddy with the studs on his new spare tire carrier as well. You can use an impact with the OTC Ball Joint press. You will want to get the Jeep Adapters as well. OTC has a spot to store them in the press case as well which was awesome. Mine was made in the USA. About 40 miles south of where I live in Owatonna MN.

I have this kit also and it works well and get the extra Jeep Adapter, you will need it, the angled bushing works well on the C

.

 

If you don’t plan on doing this often just rent the tools from your local auto parts store.

 

I have no problem with the Harbor Freight kit and have done several ball joints with it.

 

I bent a cheaper one from amazon. I bought an OTC and finished the job. I use it for more the ball joints. Well worth the money. Perfect for installing wheel studs when replacing rear axle shafts. Just help a buddy with the studs on his new spare tire carrier as well. You can use an impact with the OTC Ball Joint press. You will want to get the Jeep Adapters as well. OTC has a spot to store them in the press case as well which was awesome. Mine was made in the USA. About 40 miles south of where I live in Owatonna MN.

 

I just did my ball joints last week. I used the Harbor Freight kit and had no issues with the quality of the tool. I didn't buy all of the attachments though and that was a mistake. The base tool doesn't come with enough attachments to do the job properly and it took me quite literally three times as long to do the job as it should have.

I would either buy the additional adaptors from HF or look on Amazon as they also have Jeep specific adaptors.

 

I checked the prices on Amazon Prime for OTC and Harbor Freight for their brand.
OTC Ball Joint kit and adapters = $194.23.
HF price for their kit and adapters = 159.98.

HF usually has a 20% coupon available in the mail or online, bringing the HF setup down to $127.98. (HINT)...HF only gives the 20% discount on one item. I buy one item, go out and put it in my truck and then go back inside and buy the second item. I get the digital coupons and the catalog coupons, so for me, I get enough discount coupons to get the discount on several items. I only do this on big ticket items. I wouldn't do it if I was buying two screwdrivers.

Looking at the reviews, the HF kit should do the job without any issues. With the current Covid-19 shutdowns, I'd probably go with the OTC from Amazon and simply have the kit delivered. I have prime, so the shipping should be free.
If I needed anything else from HF, I might get their setup. I like walking around the store and picking up items that might be handy plus get whatever free goody that they're offering at that time.

If I was a professional mechanic that did suspension work, no question,I'd buy the OTC kit. Since I'm a hobby mechanic that might only use the kit twice or three times in the rest of my life, the price of the HF kit is pretty attractive.

Good Luck, L.M.

 

I checked the prices on Amazon Prime for OTC and Harbor Freight for their brand.
OTC Ball Joint kit and adapters = $194.23.
HF price for their kit and adapters = 159.98.

HF usually has a 20% coupon available in the mail or online, bringing the HF setup down to $127.98. (HINT)...HF only gives the 20% discount on one item. I buy one item, go out and put it in my truck and then go back inside and buy the second item. I get the digital coupons and the catalog coupons, so for me, I get enough discount coupons to get the discount on several items. I only do this on big ticket items. I wouldn't do it if I was buying two screwdrivers.

Looking at the reviews, the HF kit should do the job without any issues. With the current Covid-19 shutdowns, I'd probably go with the OTC from Amazon and simply have the kit delivered. I have prime, so the shipping should be free.
If I needed anything else from HF, I might get their setup. I like walking around the store and picking up items that might be handy plus get whatever free goody that they're offering at that time.

If I was a professional mechanic that did suspension work, no question,I'd buy the OTC kit. Since I'm a hobby mechanic that might only use the kit twice or three times in the rest of my life, the price of the HF kit is pretty attractive.

Good Luck, L.M.

So, it looks like the press (service kit) is discounted right now to about $130. Can someone confirm that this is the same kit previously referenced and not maybe a kit with less parts.
OTC Press Kit

Thanks!

 

Just to confirm....The extra adapters that HF has does not include the beveled one that the OTC kit has, right?

 

I bought a used once OTC press off ebay and came with Dana 44 cups (guy had a Ram) for $45 shipped

 

Link does not work for me

 

Let's try this again

OTC Ball Joint Press Kit

 

The links were posted

This is the OTC tool $114 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SRGXY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this is the extra kit that you will need for a Jeep another 85 on Amazon Amazon.com: OTC (7894) Jeep/Dodge Ball Joint Service Adapter: Automotive

the cup on the bottom right of the picture is one of the cups you will use, it is cut on a slight angle to keep the tool straight on the Jeeps angled C

If you get the Harbor freight version just make sure it has that angled adapter cup in it

 

Yes that is the tool with the basic kit.

For a Jeep you still need the extra service adapter kit I linked above

 

Definitely do not skimp on buying the extra adaptors. You can do it with just the basic kit but it will be a lot more work and will be really frustrating. It's an easy job if you have the right adaptors.

 

I have the large Otc kit its great, pushed my shackle bolts out, installed ujoints, and I think it will do ball joints. ha ha... its very good quality.

 

Had to come back by and give a big thanks for the advice on the OTC press and adapter kit. That press is a beast! Very quality stuff. It ended up being about $200 for the press and the adapter kit. Compare that to a $800 estimate from a local shop to replace the ball joints. Anyway, very impressed with the product!

 

OTC all the way, but the rental kit from O'Reilly with the right adapters from Amazon did the trick too