Ur the man! Answered all my questions. I’m getting the Astro kit and press

This was really helpful. I could not remove the LCA on my car due to rust so had to result to pressing out the ball joint as-is. Was debating between HF, OTC, and others on Amazon and you just helped me make my decision. Thanks!

Thanks for telling it like it is. I like that. I am just a diy'er and just fix my own and families rides. I was going to buy the harbor freight set until now! I have Amazon Prime so I will get the ASTRO set from there. Thanks Again!! I am a subscriber of yours now!

Hey thanks for the review .. I'm a pretty experienced mechanic .. multiple multiple years in this field .. but never did flat rate .. I think it's about time to make the step into it .. and one thing I'm concentrating on now before I leave my hourly position is buying more of these type of tools .. and I've seen this one advertised but never in person .. but now that I see you given it a good review I'm definitely going to be buying this kit this weekend ... If you could do some more videos on starting off in the flat rate world I would really appreciate it .. and a review on a compression guage fuel pressure guage .. etc .. thanks bud

Plus the Astro 7897 Master Kit includes the SAME (4) EXACT Jeep adapters that OTC sells for $90!

Great video and a very handy set.

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Im an apprentice who constantly buys tools these videos are quite helpful to help me save some money and not cheap out on chinese junk

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy the videos, That is what I am trying to do with these videos is help the young techs like you!

Good tip to air hammer out ball joints, thanks

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

I have done it for years, takes like 30 seconds, but I am in the Southern US so your mileage may vary!

Great review !!

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

thanks for the review

i have the harbor freight adapeters that i use with a old otc press and only bent one adapeter but i had is cockeyed but the press from them lasted one use on a 2nd gen dodge ram and it bent halfway through

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Not surprised on the press part, but I though about getting the adapter set but the astro kit was cheaper than HF unless I got the kit on sale

Thanks for your video. Always looking for reviews on tools before purchasing. Several people on Amazon have reviewed this kit negatively saying the press bends.Not sure if I want to buy after reading those reviews. Any thoughts??

@flatratemaster

6 жыл бұрын

I only have the adapter kit, my ball joint press is OTC, but the tech next to me has the complete Astro kit and has not had any issues with press bending

I also recommend getting their Goliath #78100 press. That things huuuuuge

I more steller review bud diggin the channel 1 thing tho that droopy poster behind u is drive'n me nuts just throwing it out there, good stuff tho!!

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

I will tape it up before the next shoot:)

Do you leave the screw in the press to save time putting it away? That always seems like a bit of a timesink. Modify the case to hold them together.

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

My BJ press just goes into my bottom drawer, I never put it away, but yes on my case you have to screw it all the way in and the case is too small to modify

you didn't mention whether your coworker uses an impact on the Astro... i've heard people say don't but I've seen people who do. I'm wondering if "beating the snot out of it" includes hitting it with the impact.

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Both of use use our impacts on them:)

I'm guessing that little yellow sticker on the U Press says "warning do not use an impact gun" but if you go on amazon a sponsored video from Astro Pneumatic shows them doing just that.

Have you had good luck w dodge ram 2500/3500 on using the hammer on them,,,they are a nightmare...

@Jdl223

4 жыл бұрын

Wondering if this press will take mine out

fluid excavators any experience or need for them?

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Yes, the shops is in constant use, we use to to adjust transmission levels, suck out p/s fluid out of reservoirs to replace pumps, or hoses, brake master cyl etc.

any suggestions on a good air hammer. I have one from harbor freight and it is weak sauce. Astro pneumatic sells a .498 shank beast and was thinking about getting it

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

IR or Snap On, I have not used the Astro but Eric O of SMA swears by it!

@SouthMainAuto

7 жыл бұрын

Astro 4980 all the way man. Blows the SnapOn long barrel right outta the water IMO :D

@nicke2307

7 жыл бұрын

South Main Auto Repair just got that bad boy eric and i cant put it down!!!!!!

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

I am honored to have the great Eric O comment on my video:)

@SouthMainAuto

7 жыл бұрын

Haha nothing great about me sir, just a mechanic like the rest of us.

I don't get a chance to use mine that often. =(

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

MIne either, rarely do ball joints, that is why I can't spend the money for the Snap On.

any flat rate videos for the Rear wheel bearings of the newer ford explorers that the inner lip is like 3in long other then beating 2 studs out an pulling them out with the bolt pressure???? these things are a pain in the .........

@flatratemaster

5 жыл бұрын

They do suck, haven't done one in years, written at least 30 of them up, but none bought

Find yourself a Chevy C70 with rust seized balljoints. Try the press on those. Use heat and a 3/4" impact then we will see how durable it really is!

You aren't gonna air hammer out ball joints in the rust belt, especially 1 ton truck ball joints that have been in for 10 years. The Harbor freight press works really good. I had mine for 12 years before I bent it. Never had a problem with it on balljoints but what did it in was using it on a 1 1/2" dozer C-frame pin using a 3/4 impact to drive it. It was holding up until I had to heat the pin to cherry red and the heat soaked into the press. Hard to gripe about a tool that failed under those circumstance.

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Eric O of South Main Auto does;) and he is in upstate NY. I am in the south so your mileage may vary and don't do much over 1/2 ton trucks anymore, I do own a King Pin Press BTW and have used it. Glad to hear your HF BJ press worked so well for you, but I know several techs that have bent them.Thanks for watching!

@bosborn1

7 жыл бұрын

Flatrate Master I did have an older one. The new one I replaced it with doesn't seem as robust. I lived north of Eric. Now I'm in the south. It's so much nicer to work on stuff that is from here. I still haven't tried the air hammer with ball joints and king pins. I just use the press. To be fair I'm not flat rate I'm fleet maintenance, so I'm not going for flag hours.

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

One of the issues with HF and really any rebranded tool is they can change manufacturers and you will never know it until you get a replacement. I have never had any luck getting King Pins out with an Air hammer even in the south, have had to use my press and heat several times.

Can that kit do f250 ball joints to?

@flatratemaster

5 жыл бұрын

Yes

real world talk review is the correct title because you did not review anything under real world pressures and standards

tool trucks SUCK!!! What a rip off!!!

I used to beat and heat air hammer all my ball joints out as well then I found the snapon bjp1 it is not cheap and it is way faster to press them out it pays for itself very quickly

@Drunkis1337

7 жыл бұрын

Bjp1 is awesome. Can use it for u joints and I've used it do some some control arm bushings as well. Great tool already made my money back on it for sure. Mainly because I'm doing ball joints on Fords with 30 to 40K on them. I haven't seen a Transit yet but they already have an adapter set for them.

@maxwellpeter1598

7 жыл бұрын

Drunkis1337 first time I used it I wondered why I waited so long to buy it

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

I honestly do not do enough front end work to justify, the Snap On, mostly replace arms, with BJ on what I work on. As I said in the video the Snap On is a very nice tool and would love one.

@maxwellpeter1598

7 жыл бұрын

Flatrate Master yes arms for uppers anymore but lowers press in and out I'll never beat and heat again

@flatratemaster

7 жыл бұрын

Maxwell Peter last lower Ball Joint I replaced was on a Volvo, bolt in, Before that was a Honda, I was doing Compliance bushings, Ball Joint Threads stripped on removal, 30 seconds air hammered out,its nice working in the Southern US😎