Camburg uca uniball bearing stuck. Please help!

Good morning all.
I’ll get right to it..

I have been running Camburg upper control arms with 1” uniballs for approximately 40,000 miles now with problems or noise, Until now..
They started squeezing so I took it in to my mechanic and he said the passenger side needs replacing. Ordered a new set from Camburg.
Mechanic tried to remove the passenger side first with no luck. He used a 20 ton press to try to get the bearing out of the A arm and it wouldn’t budge! He was afraid of damaging the control arm so he gave up.

From what I’ve read on TW most people replace these ball joints much sooner than 40,000 + miles.

How on earth do you remove these darn things?!?!
Camburg said they sell a special removal/ install tool for 175$, but I don’t see how that tool does anything a 20 ton press can’t do, but admittedly I’ve never messed with these.
I read one guy here on TW say he refuses to run uniballs because he doesn’t want to have to cut them out.. Dear god please tell me I don’t have to do that!!
If anyone knows how to get these things out PLEASE help me out!!

Thanks for any useful advice!

 

Maybe its because a press is the wrong tool to use.



Just a random picture I grabbed from the internet regarding uniball removal.

 

Not that your mechanic isn’t any good, but I suggest taking it to a shop that deals with off road suspension. They may have more experience with issues like that.

if those were mines and a 20ton press really couldn’t get it out. I would torch just the “ball” out then try the press again, the sleeve should be nice and hot by now. Then again, I play with fire at work so I’m pretty confident in my cutting skills.

 

I have the same UCA's and use the tool in the video (mine came from All German Motorsports). Came right out, very easy.

A few thoughts for your mechanic, did he remove the snap ring that holds the uniball in the cup? And/or is he pressing it out the correct way? and pressing on the correct part (the outer sleeve) of the uniball and leaving room for it to fall out of the cup?

 

Side note, be sure to replace with an FK Spherical Bearing (uniball) PN/ AIN16T. I got replacements from Summit, new snap rings I got from Camburg. Summit was a bit cheaper at the time.

My first set of uniballs squeaked after a bit, I didn't see an FK on it anywhere so it was likely a different brand. My FK's have been in for a about 70k miles and not one peep. (I need to pull them and check them...)

 

I would 2nd what @JJ04TACO said. Verify the snap ring has been removed and pressing is in the correct direction.

IIRC, the first time I changed mine they were hard. But they are also very dry. Since then, it has been much easier (3rd set now) since I use a little anti-seize between the outer bearing race and the cup.

 

Thanks for the tip.
The tool from AGM is 225$, Camburg quoted me 175$
Do you know of anywhere that sells one cheaper?

 

Wow, prices went up. I paid $150 from AGM several years ago. I don’t know of any other places that sell them. Maybe ICON?

All I can say is the price I paid was worth the time saved. You can change the uniball without taking off the UCA. Takes about 20 minutes a side to replace. I ate the tool cost hoping I’d get 2-3 uses from it. Our 4Runner will get new UCAs eventually but they are 1.5” maybe 1.25”? I forget. So I’ll need the adapter for that size.

You could buy the tool then sell it to recoup some of your cash. Split the deal with someone. But I find selling tools to be difficult if not impossible because…tools.