Dumb ass mistake, looking for options

[msggunny]

Hi, so I was changing out the ball joints on my 04D2 and I am pretty sure I just buggered up the axle housing by using the top ear of the knuckle to press out the bottom ball joint. I couldn't get the press to work any other way so I figured the top ear would be strong enough to handle the load of pressing it out and I saw a guy on Youtube do it this way. Guess my bottom ball joint was much more suborn that his was... Nope. Bent it pretty significantly.

I dont see how that can get fixed, maybe I am wrong. The options I see are:

1. Buy a whole new axle housing and replace it.
2. get someone to cut the end off and weld on a new one on.

I think #1 would be the best way to go and cheapest. Should have paid the local shop the $850 they quoted me to do it....

Any ideas are appreciated, thanks.

 

[ERover82]

Wouldn't trust a weld to be as strong or positioned correctly. Find a new used one.

 

[4Runner]

X2 find a used one and you will be head of the game

 

[salvvia]

Youre fked call will T and just replace with used

 

[msggunny]

Youre fked call will T and just replace with used

Just waiting on Will to get me a quote...

 

[msggunny]

Worst part about this is that I am driving my buddies Prius until I fix it....

 

[Harv]

Don't let anyone you know see you! I'd recommend parking it a block away and walking the rest.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Definitely get a used axle and just swap it as an assembly. It’s probably faster to do that than it is to replace a ball joint.

 

[discostew]

Just make sure it's not an early model year axle. They changed the steering geometry because tires were getting scrubbed off them. We replaced a bunch of knuckles for that.
As I remember there's a tool that slides into the cavity that's usually full of wheel bearing that helps adjust the lower ball joint height. Without it you get a leaking axle seal because the alignment of all that is off. So get one that you won't have to fuck with. It will be hard to get it right without that tool

 

[salvvia]

Just make sure it's not an early model year axle. They changed the steering geometry because tires were getting scrubbed off them. We replaced a bunch of knuckles for that.
As I remember there's a tool that slides into the cavity that's usually full of wheel bearing that helps adjust the lower ball joint height. Without it you get a leaking axle seal because the alignment of all that is off. So get one that you won't have to fuck with. It will be hard to get it right without that tool

Whats the date break for future ref.

 

[salvvia]

When you get complete axle put s locker in while your at why not its just money........

 

[discostew]

I'm not sure what the vin break was. I can try to find out, but your going to have to remind me next week. Tomorrow I have half my crew, the bottom half. I remember some stuff but it's been 20 years. All the new shit comes in and the old gets forgotten. I could give you a crash course in Flexray coms networks, Direct injection, variable valve lift and timing, but have to look up GEMS engine management stuff. It's all been moved.

 

[msggunny]

I'm not sure what the vin break was. I can try to find out, but your going to have to remind me next week. Tomorrow I have half my crew, the bottom half. I remember some stuff but it's been 20 years. All the new shit comes in and the old gets forgotten. I could give you a crash course in Flexray coms networks, Direct injection, variable valve lift and timing, but have to look up GEMS engine management stuff. It's all been moved.

Thanks for the info, but its done and dusted. Thanks to Will Tillery for coming through like a superhero. I will say, that as much of an inconvenience it was, it was "fun" to tear it apart and put it back together again.

Anyone need any outer knuckles, brake brackets, brake calipers, or radius arms?

 

[terryjm1]

Thanks for the info, but its done and dusted. Thanks to Will Tillery for coming through like a superhero. I will say, that as much of an inconvenience it was, it was "fun" to tear it apart and put it back together again.

Anyone need any outer knuckles, brake brackets, brake calipers, or radius arms?

When I first started working on cars at age 15 and for years after I had some hard knock knuckle head lessons. But, I didn’t pay anyone to teach me. So, I see it as tuition of sorts.

Cheers to you for having the nuts to jump in and do it as well as dig yourself out when you got into trouble!