Put new control arms in my Bimmer a few days back. I had riders lined up on Craigslist for a Monday departure, and like the fool that I am, didn't discover that I really needed new ball joints (not separate from the control arm) til Friday night. By the time I had everything out, it was Sunday and the high tech auto shop I usually take my pressing work to was closed - couldn't any facility with that capability on hand.

I searched Craigslist for a hydraulic press. Of course, w/o all the different size pressing flanges or whatever they're called, you'd be hustling hard to make it work. Probably could have. Nothing on Craigslist however. My nephew pointed out that Harbor Freight has some cheapies. I checked and sure enough - not sure how heavy a press one would need for what I'll be up against - they have a 6 ton for $70, a 12 ton for $130, and several 20 tonners from $199 up. Can't be too good but then I'd rarely use it. If the 6 ton would have done the bushings, would have been worth it. I was whacking on my vice handle with a biggish hammer to get them suckers pressed on. Gave me one serious blister. Waaaa Haven't had one of those since I was a framer.

Search results for: 'hydraulic press'

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

My uncle had one, it worked fine.

Nothing special about it, just a big spring/sliding frame with a hydraulic bottle jack as the convincer.

Just a guess, but if you could beat them in, the six tonner would've had no problem.

I bought a 10 ton cheapo press with a gauge - I'm really happy with it - only a table top model but it is light enough to move about.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I have the HF 12 ton. Works fine, frame is a little twisted, and its pretty crude, but for the price and the amount of time I use it, was totally worth it. Other hydraulic stuff from HF I use all the time and it holds up pretty well. I trust HF fo hydraulic stuff, carts and jack stands, but stay away from any precision tool

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I have the 20 ton version, and had to replace the bottom rails with something more substantial...the job I was doing was more than the press could handle. Now the weak link is in the upper rail, not the bottom.

I remember picking mine up on sale from HF for $129 about 8 years ago

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Well clearly a vise isn't built to press in ball joints so good move there getting the proper tool

The HF press won't let you down

You'd be hard pressed to find one cheaper.


har har har

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I have a cheap press. I don't recall where I got it, but it probably came from the same factory in China that makes the HF version. It works fine, though I suspect a higher-end unit might have features that make it easier and faster to use. I got mine for a specific ball joint project about 5 years ago and have used it maybe 4 times since then, so it's more than paid for itself. It's one of those tools that you will rarely use, but when you need it nothing else will do. IMHO.

I bought an HF press when they were on sale in case I needed one. Can't remember using it but it was cheap enough that I thought it was worthwhile to have it around.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

About the same, I bought a Carolina 30 ton press years ago. The display model said it was made in the US but the one I got had no labels on it. Suspect it is chinese. It came with a 20 ton jack installed.

I bought an extra set of press plates from HF and some bearing pullers.

Mostly have done wheel bearings and motorcycle crankshafts. Some things I wouldn't admit to.

No regrets, would do it all over again. Forget prices but they were cheap.

Do be super careful with a press. A few tons in the wrong place can change everything forever. Body parts are no match for shrapnel. I often stand behind a shield.

I definitely should get one. I always had the impression that they were big, heavy, and expensive. FWIW, it wasn't ball joints I was using the vice on, it was the steel housing for a rubber flange thingy that grips the back end of the control arm. It has to be pressed into the mounting bracket shown below. The control arm on this Bimmer comes with the ball joints already in place. They cannot be replaced separately.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K