Original Upper Ball Joints?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Original Upper Ball Joints?
I pulled the engine and trans from our '77 and have been cleaning up the engine compartment to prepare for detailing it. As I'm scraping grease off of everything I did the upper ball joints. I thought I was uncovering bolt heads (a sign of replacement ball joints) - they were not bolt heads but rivets!
Is it possible that a Chevy dealer replaced them at some point - do they use rivets on the factory replacement parts or are these still the original ball joints?? If they are that seems crazy to me that they have not been replaced after 30+ years.
Is it possible that a Chevy dealer replaced them at some point - do they use rivets on the factory replacement parts or are these still the original ball joints?? If they are that seems crazy to me that they have not been replaced after 30+ years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Upper joints don't see the wear and tear that lower ones do. I'm not surprised that they are still the originals. However, lower joints may need attention depending on the mileage and abuse. I'm rebuilding my '80 after nearly 100K miles and the lower joints need replacing but the upper ones are still good. I'll replace them while everything is apart, but it isn't absolutely necessary on my car.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
I'm going to be replacing the control arm bushings so I'll check the uppers at that point. Just seems odd to me that they last this long - right at 100k mileage here as well.
Thanks for the heads up Casey
Adam
Thanks for the heads up Casey
Adam
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Edit: I found info on the fronts here in the forums.
Last edited by AdamMeh; Nov 29, 2011 at 11:05 AM. Reason: Info Found
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
My '68 (81k miles) had the original ball joints, but the rotors had been drilled.
It is easy to remove the rivets, just grind the heads off and drive them thru with a punch (tapered punch in an air chisel works great).
It is easy to remove the rivets, just grind the heads off and drive them thru with a punch (tapered punch in an air chisel works great).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
All of my ball joints were original Adam. My rear brake rotors were as well. You can see where someone got a little sloppy drilling off a few of those rivets. I had them turned and they are now within specs for runout. Somehow I doubt the china stuff sold now would have made it 40yrs.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: loxley alabama
Rally- thats what I like to see in a post- a really good idea ( air chisel)- I,ve one on old car frames to remove rivets but it didn,t occur to me that I could do the same on vette rotors- this getting old is tough. Members- always remember to throw in your ideas every chance you get. And- everyone should own an air compressor. Did you know you can blow the silk out of corn on the cob before cooking- guess that should be posted on my 'POTS-N- PANS' forum. Sorry about that!
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