Another front end rebuild Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Bozeman MT
Another front end rebuild Question
Another question already.
The upper ball joint is rivited in, and it looks like Van Steel sent bolts. So to me that means I have to grind or chisel off the rivets. Any tips?
I am keeping the upper A-arm in the car, as the bushings look and feel fine and it took me 3 hours of beating to get the lower A-arm bushings out.
Don't want to do any more of that than I have to.
BTW is there a link somewhere to instructions for this rebuild? None came with the Van Steel kit, and their video just showed how to get the springs out and back in basically.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help!
-Kevin
The upper ball joint is rivited in, and it looks like Van Steel sent bolts. So to me that means I have to grind or chisel off the rivets. Any tips?
I am keeping the upper A-arm in the car, as the bushings look and feel fine and it took me 3 hours of beating to get the lower A-arm bushings out.
Don't want to do any more of that than I have to.BTW is there a link somewhere to instructions for this rebuild? None came with the Van Steel kit, and their video just showed how to get the springs out and back in basically.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help!
-Kevin
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
I chiseled off the rounded edges of the rivets and then bought a $50 drill and cautiously drilled the remainder of the rivets out. As long as you don't expand the size of the rivet chamber, you'll do alright.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Originally Posted by Fabric8r
Another question already.
The upper ball joint is rivited in, and it looks like Van Steel sent bolts. So to me that means I have to grind or chisel off the rivets. Any tips?
BTW is there a link somewhere to instructions for this rebuild? None came with the Van Steel kit, and their video just showed how to get the springs out and back in basically.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help!
-Kevin
The upper ball joint is rivited in, and it looks like Van Steel sent bolts. So to me that means I have to grind or chisel off the rivets. Any tips?
BTW is there a link somewhere to instructions for this rebuild? None came with the Van Steel kit, and their video just showed how to get the springs out and back in basically.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help!
-Kevin
As for instructions...the service manual will walk you right through it (that is providing you have one). Otherwise, just put it back together the way it came apart, and once you're finished, take the car in for a front end alignment. Anytime you remove front steering components you should have it re-aligned.
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Use a centerpunch to get the drill centered on the rivets and then drill them out... no big deal...I'd start drilling a little smaller than the supplied bolts are in diameter (just to make sure you're not enlarging the holes in the control arm)...
OR just gring the heads off the rivets ....
OR just gring the heads off the rivets ....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
grind the rivets off. by time you chisel 1 off id be done and drinking your beer! and please change the bushings man! youve got the worst over with and your gonna put it together with old bushings still in not cool! youll feel better about it later. get any shop to press them out, like 50 bones for all 4 arms. thell even put in your new ones.
not cool! youll feel better about it later. get any shop to press them out, like 50 bones for all 4 arms. thell even put in your new ones.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,191
Likes: 145
From: Snake handler
I would replace the upper bushings while you have it apart. It is a pain but if you want to improve your handling you'll want new bushings everywhere. Your suspension is only as good as its weakest link.
Some people have burned them out. I prefer to drill a whole bunch of small holes all around the bushing and then rip it out in pieces. Perhaps some other members will chime in with more ideas.
Some people have burned them out. I prefer to drill a whole bunch of small holes all around the bushing and then rip it out in pieces. Perhaps some other members will chime in with more ideas.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by redc3
grind the rivets off. by time you chisel 1 off id be done and drinking your beer! and please change the bushings man! youve got the worst over with and your gonna put it together with old bushings still in not cool! youll feel better about it later. get any shop to press them out, like 50 bones for all 4 arms. thell even put in your new ones.
not cool! youll feel better about it later. get any shop to press them out, like 50 bones for all 4 arms. thell even put in your new ones.
Buy a $20 grinder at Harbor Freight and grind the rivets flush on the outside and grind into the old ball joint on the inside if necessary. The less resistance you have to punch out the old rivet the better.
I found the old thread that has the Lars method in it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ars+suspension
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Originally Posted by redc3
grind the rivets off. by time you chisel 1 off id be done and drinking your beer!
Hmmmmm....sounds like this could make a fun contest!! The air chisel versus the grinder. Winner gets
On second thought...who cares who gets done first, as long as there's 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski