BALL JOINTS...hot or not?

[basshole]

after spending a whole day replacing upper and lower joints on my van with the tools i thought would make this job a little less mind (back, and shoulder) numbing... ball joint press, sledge hammer, length of steel pipe for a punch, 3ft. breaker bar, and six beers... i was amazed at the amount of force needed to press the joints in and out!! THERE MUST BE AN EASIER WAY !!!! the field seems split on whether or not to HEAT the steering knuckle before pressing the new joints in (new ones are already in the freezer) . some pro's and con's on heating the reciever hole on the knuckle to expand it would really help before i do the other side. THANKS.

[inafogg]

hello,never had to heat just removed with a mini sledge.i used a air hammer to
install with bj in control arm & driving down on c/arm.what are we working on??
you just say a VAN.

[Airjer_]

A ball joint press and a 1/2" impact make it quick and easy. once the knuckle is removed it should only take 5-10 minutes to remove and install the joints.

[basshole]

it's a '96 e-150, apparently with original joints. i know the joints gotta be tight, obviously so they stay in, but these SOB's were something else!! not so much getting them out (been in there 14 years) but, getting the new ones in,ho man! i don't have access to air tools , so i gotta make do. maybe the cheaper joints i got (prosteer) don't make for a perfect marriage ?...I don't know. thanks for taking time to answer.