"ball studs"

[tassiecj6]

Hi folks,
Changed the wheels on my 74cj6 today(downgraded 35s to 33s) and noticed the front hubs had some play ,thought wheel bearings, but on further inspection found that the play was in the "ball joints" ,top and bottom.
just read my workshop manual and it says "ball studs .
1 . are these any harder to change than ordinary ball joints?
2. the book says i need a "split ring nut wrench" ,do i REALLY need one ?
3. how much would i expect to pay for ball studs ?
any advice appreciated
Tassiecj6

[murray]

1 . are these any harder to change than ordinary ball joints?
not really
2. the book says i need a "split ring nut wrench"
,do i REALLYneed one ?
yes
3. how much would i expect to pay for ball studs ?
any advice appreciated
dont know theses are common to any dana/spicer diff
try hardey spicer in your state
this will be the cheapest way to go

[tassiecj6]

thanks Murray
I will check it out a bit more before i rip it apart.
I would imagine that a split nut wrench is a half circle tool with a lug on the end that hooks into a slot on the nut !!
Tassiecj6

[CJ6np435]

Home made split nut wrench pics
the outside dia of the tube is 26.3mm inside dia
19.6mm the tangs are 6.35 mm wide, there is a nut welded on the end so you can get a socket on it

I've just had a top one replaced, the guy that did it cut the stud off, put a support through the knuckle under the ball joint, then pressed the knuckle down

[tassiecj6]

Home made split nut wrench pics
the outside dia of the tube is 26.3mm inside dia
19.6mm the tangs are 6.35 mm wide, there is a nut welded on the end so you can get a socket on it

I've just had a top one replaced, the guy that did it cut the stud off, put a support through the knuckle under the ball joint, then pressed the knuckle down

Geez mate ,unreal !!!!
Thanks very much for the pics and dimensions of the tool.
I am having the boys at work make me one .
It's people like you that make up for the bad seeds that lurk here sometimes !
Cheers

[CJ6np435]

just an after thought
make the tube longer than the stud! (55mm approx)

[tassiecj6]

Thanks for that
will let you know how it goes.