Ball joints from hell....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Ball joints from hell....
I thought this holiday weekend would be a good time to put in some new springs from VB & P that I had to lower the front end and replace the lower ball joints that were OEM with the rivets. No big deal right? wrong... 
those @#$%^& rivets....after I cut the heads off I used a center punch and then another punch and several hammers with no luck. Ended up using a angle cutter/cutting wheel to cut between the lower arm and the ball joint ear that was rusted over the years to the lower arm. The spring came out with no problem. Now I get to do the other side..... 
BTW: the OEM spring weighed in at 12lbs. the VB & P spring (460) weighed in at 8.5 lbs.....
those @#$%^& rivets....after I cut the heads off I used a center punch and then another punch and several hammers with no luck. Ended up using a angle cutter/cutting wheel to cut between the lower arm and the ball joint ear that was rusted over the years to the lower arm. The spring came out with no problem. Now I get to do the other side..... BTW: the OEM spring weighed in at 12lbs. the VB & P spring (460) weighed in at 8.5 lbs.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
Originally Posted by 75 Stingray!
Grind the head off center punch (one hit to locate drill) and drill the rivets out. A few taps on the on the ball joint stud should nock it out.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Originally Posted by 75 Stingray!
Grind the head off center punch (one hit to locate drill) and drill the rivets out. A few taps on the on the ball joint stud should nock it out.
alittle soaking with BP over night and some more air hammering did the trick. Hey for 32 years they were in there so what's ever easy.. 
.. the spring was the easiest part, just pulled right out...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I tried doing it by grinding off the rivit. I didn't have a cold chisel. Tried knocking the rivit through. Noway was it coming out that way. Drilled the rivit and punched out what little remained. I had a heck of a time getting the steering knuckle to breake loose off the ball joints using a pickle fork, fork is a little shorter from all the hitting it took. I then picked up a tie rod puller before doing the passenger side. Put it on and a couple of turns of the wrench and the steering knuckle breaks loose. That cheap $5 tool was well worth it. Now if I only had a simple ,easy way to get the outer bushing sleeves out of the lower control my life would have been better.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Well the job is done, looks like the bolt in ball joints will be a piece of cake to remove and install. The 460 springs I installed from VB & P are fine although I cut them 1/3 of a coil,the height is at 27 1/2" to top of fender. I'll remove the springs and cut them down again, looking for the 27" height, just wondering how much more to cut off the coil springs 
at least the job now will be easy.........
at least the job now will be easy.........
