I am trying to do the lower ball joints on an 04 G35 coupe.
i bought a cheap kit but it doesn’t have the correct adapter to remove.
i rented a master kit from auto zone and it doesn’t either.
Oem ball joint top measures 2.25 inches with a thin grove around it where the correct size would fit.
so I would think it takes a thin wall 2.3” adapter.
anyone know where I can get one.
thanks
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

just did some searching and found some say the 2 7/6” adapter works.
i could not keep it straight with the press on. I tried with a 2 3/8”.
knuckle is not flat around the entire way around the ball joint.
oh well I’ll keep trying.

 

I've done them before on my 06X. Not sure how much different the knuckle is for the coupe but my knuckle also wasn't made to facilitate easy removal of the lower ball joint. When I had access to a shop press, I could stack up enough stuff although I don't remember what I used exactly to press them out/in. When I didn't have access to the shop and had a hard time removing one with the rental kit, I took the knuckle to a local shop and they pressed it out for me and didn't charge me because it was so easy for them. I bought them a case of beer. That only works if you took the whole knuckle off though and won't work if you're trying to do it with that rental kit while it's attached to the car. I would always do the extra work to get it off the car because it makes it so much easier to do everything. It's not a short cut to do it on the car if it takes you longer and makes it harder for you. If these were made to come out easier, it might be possible on the car with a rental kit but there's just no good flat surface to press against.

 

Thanks for the reply,
Yea it’s not flat around the whole area.
I saw a u tube the guy took one of the adapters to a machine shop.
They honed it out enough to clear the ball joint.
I may go do that.
I read where they changed the knuckle after 2004. And that maybe why some guys get away with using the 2 7/16” adapter.
But you really need a 2 5/16” thin wall
I have a 2 1/4” adapter that works for install (barely). There’s enough meat to hone it to 2 5/16” and it would clear.
Your idea taking the knuckle off is a good one. I may have to go that route.

 

I got the old out and new in.
I had to improvise and bought an exhaust pipe adapter 21/2” to 2”.
Cut off the 21/2” side and sanded both edges. The inside diameter was perfect to remove joints (23/8”).
It fit right in the groove around the ball joint. I was worried it would crush from the pressure. But it didn’t.
The cheap press kit I bought luckily had the right install adapter.
Total cost $5 for exhaust pipe, $34 for the press kit and $100 for the Z1 ball joints w/zerk fitting.
Good DIY for me.