BEST & EASIEST WAY How to Change Nissan Xterra / Titan / Armada Ball joint (DIY)

[@erictheboringone5292]

I’m glad I’m not the only dude that’s a believer in the fact that a carpenters claw hammer is a great mechanics tool also. I’ve pried brake calipers off with the claw same way as you for as long as I can remember. Good shit bro.

[@MTLJack]

Thank you for your kind words buddy. The tool works great but its taking a beating hahaha.

[@irwinjimenez]

Good video. My advice: buy some internal & external "snap ring"pliers.

[@MTLJack]

Thank you! I will do, I can't find the proper ones

[@MTLJack]

I got some snap ring pliers but they don't open the snap rings properly or large enough

[@adammacer]

@@MTLJack Needle nose pliers work for rings that big

[@Ricky16317]

Everything comes apart so easy in your vid! Working on mine right now and let me tell you, tapping on the knuckle isn't doing squat to get the ball joints and tie rod to release!

[@bradcalberry2223]

Use a product called " movvit ". Made in Canada 🇨🇦 for over 100 years. Spray it on, leave it for 5 mins and go after it again. Works wonders!! WD40 is for fishing lures only. I never use that crap.

[@MTLJack]

I live in Canada, Montreal, one of the worst cities for cars rusts. If i can do it, you can too LOL !

[@MTLJack]

I use PB Blaster

[@kevinschillerstrom1530]

No more chirping for me, just replaced my lower ball joint on my frontier. Thanks for the video, looks like your chisel worked better than ours, had to use an air hammer to separate the joint from the knuckle, lol.

[@MTLJack]

Glad it helped, make sure to click that like button and subscribe!

[@KCRunner]

I thought I could do this till I watched your video lol guess I'll give the mechanic my money

[@MTLJack]

it wasnt that hard :P

[@Miguel3R]

Damn bro you got all the tools!

[@mikejones6711]

Everything but a torque wrench... gave her all the ugga duggas

[@MTLJack]

I agree i should have used a torque wrench, i didn't have one back then! Now i do! Though , a lot of times you will realize you can't use the torque wrench or you get to learn the torque of your tools. I have a Dewalt XR impact now and i know at number 2 setting, it gives me 100 lbtq and so on, i guess with time you get the feel of the torque. Thanks for watching!

[@properjob7970]

Good idea to leave the ABS sensor plugged in. Wish I had now.

[@JohnSpanos]

Thank you for the video and excellent tips!

[@neilyakuza6595]

Awesome video, thank you! I have a 2010 nissan Xterra. I have to replace the lower ball joint.

[@MTLJack]

Thank you for watching and make sure to like the video !!!

[@orion6622]

Nice video! Can you specify what size adapters you used in the ball join press? I’m having trouble getting all the cups to fit in the clamp.

[@mb1636]

What is symptom of bad ball joints? Looks can be deceiving..you make it look easy. nice vid !

[@MTLJack]

Hmm ... car moving on its own on uneven road surfaces , knocking , ripped boot on the ball joint ... a good way to check is jack up your car, move the wheel '12' and '6" o clock non stop , if it knocks or shakes, it means you might have a bad ball joint. Make sure its not a bad bearing.

[@davidtran9688]

Hi, I am looking to change my upper control arm. What is the brand that you use for your car?

[@MTLJack]

I bought Mevotech, a bit expensive but it was worth it because you can adjust it. Was around 280$+shipping, each

[@isaacfalvey]

Great video. This is very helpful.

[@BoundlessFPV]

Are your bilsteins set to 2"? I set mine up that way and it's way too rough a ride. I'm thinking about using a 2" spacer and dropping the struts down to the bottom notch.

[@MTLJack]

I forgot, it was either 1.5 or 2 but no spacers. Ride is great. My friend loves it.

[@pedrohdz1964]

Good work and good skills thanks for sharing, cool video

[@MTLJack]

Glad it helped, make sure to click that like button and subscribe!

[@dlaw3734]

7:45 do those splines need anti seize?

[@MTLJack]

You may put or not, I usually put antiseize only on the nut end

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

Always use jack stands when working under any vehicle !!! SAFETY FIRST !!!

[@shannonm9291]

Agree 100%. Even if your jack is overkill and brand new, it's not worth risking yourself, or your car. Love how the jack was used to hold the caliper btw 😂👌

[@MTLJack]

Jack was used to support the car too. 1 each side for the front. Check video at 2:22. I have 4 floor jacks :)

[@916nando]

What are symptoms of having bad ball joints?

[@MTLJack]

On the free way , the car would change direction on its own or on bumps, you would hear knocks.

[@916nando]

@@MTLJack thanks, thats what is happening now.

[@temohizo]

what brand is that upper control arm?

[@torontocharlz]

Specialty Product Company or SPC

[@MTLJack]

You got it right @ragingazian!

[@watchmanexpert]

Y think is necessary weld the upper ball joints? My mechanic want put some weld in case get lose

[@MTLJack]

Never weld balljoints ....!!!! Doesn’t make any sense !

[@MTLJack]

The only reason why you want to weld a balljoint is because it’s the wrong part. Just simply replace the whole upper control arm, it comes with the right balljoint

[@watchmanexpert]

MTLJack I bought the ball joints only with out the arm , my mistake! And the mechanic said is better put some weld in case , I bought MOOG ...

[@MTLJack]

@@watchmanexpert Moog is not that good quality in my experience. Lasts maybe a year or two.

[@watchmanexpert]

MTLJack which brand u can recommend me ?

[@misterbulger]

My upper ball joint just spins! I cannot get the nut the whole way off! How can I hold the shaft still? I tried vice grips but that just tore the boot and I can't get them tight enough. Just cut it off and replace it all together?!

[@MTLJack]

Use a jack to put pressure onto the shaft, it will press the ball joint against the housing and it will prevent it from moving.

[@Sroor90010]

Good job your inner tie rod is shot replace it also there is plier special for those snap ring make life easier 😁, while you are there But want to ask can you do this ball joint without press tool mean with only c clamp if i dont have the tool???

[@MTLJack]

But the ball joint tool is basically a C clamp with cups big enough to fit the ball joints.

[@Sroor90010]

@@MTLJack thank you 🌹

[@foghornleghorn8674]

Dod you grease it before putting hub back on? Cant do it after.

[@MTLJack]

Grease which part? Most of the parts doesn't have to be greased.

[@soldier001us]

Thank u for the video. How long ? Good video

[@MTLJack]

Took me an hour and half on 2nd try.

[@abuahmedabdurrahmanalamree6122]

I been watching this over n over I can’t get my knuckle off the ball joint I think I gotta get a bigger Chisel

[@MTLJack]

Yea you need a big chisel to open up that clamp. I live in Montreal so the cars i work on are heavily rusted as well so it can't be worst than me ahhaha

[@vailtaylor22]

Good video. Watching you do the snap rings made me cringe though lol.

[@MTLJack]

No worries! I just don't have the right pliers for those snap rings but it works with two screw drivers :)

[@alderringer8816]

I agree, LOL, smaller pic or screwdriver and it would have been in. Nice video though.

[@MTLJack]

@@alderringer8816 thanks for the comment buddy, really appreciated

[@terryjackson9055]

nice video but please don't hammer on ends of bolts ,will create issues

[@ziwanienterprise1422]

Was brutal watching the ball joint installed???please give us an update how well the rubber boot held grease and how long the ball joint lasted .

[@MTLJack]

Still great lol , i still maintain the same car as of today.

[@CHRIS-jh8zm]

List of torque specs?

[@MTLJack]

Here's the basic list of the nissan xterra. Should be similar for other nissan suv's or truck. Good luck ! www.thenewx.org/threads/torque-specs.1407/

[@CarlosDiaz-xt5vv]

Wow

[@vailtaylor22]

Did one side yesterday thanks to this video. Couldn't find a big enough wedge to get spindle to just drop out I had to pound it off. What brand/type is your yellow wedge?

[@vailtaylor22]

Stanley punch and chisel set at home Depot. I found it thanks.

[@MTLJack]

I found mine at Home Depot too ! Happy you found it!

[@kingkam4901]

This is the video I like less talkin getting the job done not like other videos they will talk for 20 minutes before starting the job waste of time.

[@korywhitman6385]

Unless that's a boot less ball joint. Start over. The boot keeps the grease in and the water out.

[@MTLJack]

Obviously, every balljoint has a boot lol. It is one of the most expensive ball joints you can buy on rockauto with a heavy duty boot design by Moog.

[@themechanic4222]

Invest $10 next for spring pliers

[@MTLJack]

I do have 10$ spring pliers and they don't work on ball joint rings. They provide no strength. You need 40-50$ pliers which I don't have cause I rarely use it.

[@matthewtoddsr.6743]

This video is not the same as my frontier the snap ring is on the bottom

[@adammacer]

Do you really have to take all that off? Some bits seem unnecessary..

[@MTLJack]

let me know if you find a quicker way lol. You can keep the rotor and caliper on but is it really worth all the weight and trouble ... its not harder removing those and making your life easier.

[@adammacer]

@@MTLJack lol? Like you're the oracle or summat? Well, of course the rotor and caliper come off or they'll be completely in the way the whole job and that's just 2 bolts on each side but as I thought, you don't need to remove the sway bar link nor the track rod end. You can give yourself enough room to pull the 'hub' casting (EDIT: the steering knuckle) off the half-shaft by turning the steering all the way to that side. I doubt I was quicker as it took an evening and all the next day as I didn't have all the tools I needed when I started but it deffo would've taken me longer to do it if I'd added those jobs.

[@MTLJack]

@@adammacer The reason why i remove the sway bar links is because i was going to replace them for new ones otherwise you are right, you dont have to remove them. I did mention i replaced the sway bar links though.

[@anoldfriend3901]

Why nobody uses breaker bars? No wonder everyone always breaking ratchets.

[@MTLJack]

I was using it but ever since I got my dewalt 20v impact , I can pretty much remove any bolt or nut. I only use the breaker bar when I have no space for the impact or its to remove a crazy tight wheel stud / bolt. I also purchased a extra long 1/2 ratchet (shorter than a breaker bar) that can help me a lot. Problem with breaker bar is, the angle is too wide. Not ideal for restricted spaces.

[@Teekay617]

Frig that replace the whole control arm

[@MTLJack]

Why replace the whole arm when you can just replace the ball joint?

[@smagh7483]

It was painful watching you use a screw driver to remove and install the snap ring when you have invested so much in other tools.

[@MTLJack]

1. I don't do snap rings often. 2. I do have a snap ring plier but that ring was just too big for my plier. 3. It worked, didn't it? In mechanic, its not just using the right tool but you must be creative sometimes to get the job done as long as its not dangerous method. I have installed snap rings with screw drivers btw. Is it the best method? No. Does it work? Yes!

[@angelahighwolf]

Dude, WHERE is your EYEWEAR ?.....

[@minnesota7010]

This is not the best and easiest sorry. Hack

[@MTLJack]

Then what is the best and easiest way to change a Nissan Xterra balljoint? How about share us a video so you can point me in the right direction?

[@aaronsask6936]

​@@MTLJackMan the abuse you got for making this video is unreal. I'm very thankful for it and am about to set off to change some ball joints on my Frontier. Hats off man, not all super heroes wear capes but they do all seem to get shit on now and then. Thank you!