Happy New Year, brings new ball joints

Posted: January 6, 2026 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ball joint, fist aid, medical |Leave a comment

So, there’s now some snow, but I haven’t been skiing yet. And I keep putting off a snow run.

Last month (year), I changed out my left ball joints. Using the old school two-foot Snap-On breaker bar to push the old ones out and the new ones in, I pulled a few muscles in my back. I got the job done and I’m fully recovered now. Working on Jeeps is so much fun.

This kit is specifically for Jeep ball joints, or so I was told. It worked great. What you can’t tell from the photo is that the part in the back middle has a slight angle cut to one side. Using that piece and slowly rotating it until your press (clamp) is aligned properly makes all the difference. Amazon!

Note the slight angle on the lowest piece allowing the clamp to align. As you turn that piece while it’s set up like this, the top of the clamp slowly aligns vertically for the best press angle.

Although there was one really worn-out ball joint, so it needed to be done, the steering is still a little loose after the job, so I’m on to the joint in the column and the steering box itself.

This year’s first Jeep project was to go through my First Aid bag.

I wanted something that was a true backpack, in case I had to carry it a distance and I wanted something that screamed “First Aid”. Old and new below.

Dumping it all out let me take the time to reload expired things and dead batteries. This is most of the contents.

It all fit in the new bag, but the new bag doesn’t have small pockets on the inside. So, I’m still on the hunt for a new bag. But it now says “First Aid” bag, literally, if I tell someone to grab it out of my Jeep.

Here is where I’d like to place the bag in my Jeep. Just mocked up at the time, but by placing it here, everyone will be able to find it in an emergency.

So, here’s my challenge to each of you. Go through your first aid bag and make sure the gloves are not dried out, the tourniquet is right in front, the meds are not expired, etc.

Let’s hope we never have to use our first aid kits in this new year.

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Rubicon Ronin

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