I know the ball joints are bad on the left side of my truck and I am thinking of replacing them myself. It is a 2004 GMC 2500HD 2 wheel ...

I know the ball joints are bad on the left side of my truck and I am thinking of replacing them myself. It is a 2004 GMC 2500HD 2 wheel drive. I got a qote from a suspension shop that said they will only do all 4 and not just 1 or 2 and with an alignment they want $1050.

Has anyone else replaced their own and any suggestions? I know I will need a ball joint press, but have not dealt with the torsion bar type of suspension before.

You can do it yourself if you have some basic mechanical abality. You can usually get any special tools you would need through the loaner tool program from a parts store (like Advance Auto Parts or Autozone). You can either measure the ride height of your truck before you start (so you know where to set is when you put it back under tension) and release the torsion bar tension (safest option), or you can just use a floor jack to support the front control arm while you make the repair. If you do it yourself I figure you could shave about $700 or $800 off the cost they quoted you (assuming you have the tools to do it). It can be a bit dangerous working on the suspension if you are not familiar with them, so, use your own judgement when deciding to do this yourself or not.

i did mine myself 04 2500 4x4 i just used jack stands to support the frame and floor jack on the lower control arm lower control arm no need to release the torsion bars but i had to lower the control arm. borrowed the press from o reillys. the 2 wheel drive will probably be easier as there's no axle in the way. i would replace all 4. beats tearing it apart again when the next one goes.

i just changed them on my 93 i didn't have to touch the torsion bars and you can use a floor jack to press them in. 2wd will be easy mine is 4wd and had to remove the axles.

Thanks for the inputs. I am very mechanically inclined and have no issues with turning my own wrenches. I think I will be tackling this in the next few weeks.

I will be getting a press when needed. From what I understand, as for the tension of the torsion bars, all I need to do is put my floor jack under the control arm before disconnecting the joint.

Simple enough, maybe I will post some pictures and show my progress when I dive in.

Yes, you can just control the lower control are with a floor jack. Just be carefull.

you'll need a jackstand under the frame then you can hold the control arm up with the floor jack. loosen the nuts on the ball joints and break them free then you can remove the nuts and lower the floor jack to remove the knukcle. the ball joints can be pressed out with the rental press. i think the upper ball joint on the 2wd is riveted to the upper control arm if so you'll have to drill them out and bolt the new ones in.

I never work under a vehicle on a jack, only on stands (that's why I have 2 sets). From all of the parts I have looked at, they are all press in on upper and lower. Even if it needs drilled, I have done that before on my 89 Pontiac Bonneville.

You probably will not have to actually get under the truck to do the repair. Obviously you will want the truck secured on a pair of jack stands while you do the work. If you have replaced the ball joints on other vehicles, you will see they are not that much different on your truck. Just get the press tool from the parts store and it won't be a bad job.

I just don't like having the wheels in the air and taking the chance of my leg or something being under it and having it come down.

I remember watching Faces of Death when I was younger and saw where a guy was working in a junk yard and had a car fall and the brake rotor cut his foot off and he bled to death before anyone could help him.

Anyways, thanks for the tips.