Tool Review: Matco Tools BJPXR9 Ball Joint Connected Adapter Starter Kit

Randy Kaiser, technician with Rost Motor, Inc. in Manson, Iowa, says the Matco Tools BJPXR9 Ball Joint Connected Adapter Starter Kit locks in place, which saves him the frustration of trying to balance multiple components during setup.

“This is a very handy tool to have,” Kaiser says. “If you have used a ball joint C-frame press in the past, you know how frustrating it can be trying to hold onto the press and all of the adapters while you’re lining it up with the ball joint. This tool makes it so much easier; all of the adapters are designed to be locked onto the press so that they stay in place and don’t fall off.”

Kaiser notes the tool’s adapters arrived wrapped in protective sleeves within a secure plastic carrying case. Setup, he says, was just a matter of choosing the right adapter and inserting it. Two adjustable, spring-loaded pins hold it securely in place.

The product also comes with an application chart that lists which adapters to use for removal and installation by vehicle. “This will save [technicians] a lot of time trying to figure out which [adapters] fit properly,” Kaiser says.

While replacing ball joints at his shop, Kaiser was pleasantly surprised by how easy the BJPXR9 was to use, saying, “This is the first ball joint press that I’ve used that didn’t require more hands than I have to be able to use it properly.”

Kaiser hopes more adapters will become available over time to handle an even wider range of vehicles. “I can see that there are going to be applications where I don’t have the right adapters in this kit, and I will unfortunately have to resort to using the older tools that don’t have the capability to lock in place,” he says.

The veteran technician says that this starter kit’s craftsmanship and quality of build stand out. “The idea behind the design is great. The C-frame press is very substantial and well built. The carrying case is very well laid out and very sturdy.”