Upper ball joint question,experts please.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Upper ball joint question,experts please.
I have had my new upper ball joints lying around for awhile. It is a job to get the rivets out. I have noticed the rivet holes are all the same size on the a-arm but,the holes on the ball joint plate are different,
2 larger and two smaller.
Do you enlarge two of the holes in the a arm with a drill. Hate to do
that. Forgot where I bought the replacement joints as they have been
laying around for several years.
Thanks
2 larger and two smaller.
Do you enlarge two of the holes in the a arm with a drill. Hate to do
that. Forgot where I bought the replacement joints as they have been
laying around for several years.
Thanks
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
My new ball joints came with the bolts, they are too short!
I have already removed the old ball joints and removed the rivets.
The four holes are all the same on the a-arm,yet the hole sizes
on the new ball joints are different. Two of the holes in the ball
joints are larger than the other two.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
you need the right joints,, I remember putting those different size hole u-joints back in the seventies, I'm sure they still use them, but you shouldnt open up the holes on your vette just to make them fit. take your old one with you to match up, or buy from one of the venders.
Last edited by oldalaskaman; Oct 18, 2011 at 08:28 PM.
Team Owner
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Manuals may tell you to remove the rivets while on the car. Ive done this three times and there is no way it can be done while the UCA is attached to the Vettes frame.
There are few ways to remove the rivets and on this one, I let your brain or skills to do the work.
If the bolts are too short (corvette central), go to NAPA nd order grade 8 bolts. Yes, take all components with you. Once you get all installed, torque nuts to 13 lbs-ft. at ride height and grease up the new ball joints.
This is the way I did it but, not telling anyone this is the way you should do it.
This is the way Ive done it on my 92, 95 and 96.
Loose the upper ball joint nut from knuckle.
Loose UCA from frame
Ensure you save all alignments shims and mark them.
Grind off the rivets heads
Using a vice, punch out all four rivets.
Remove old ball joint
Install new components
BTW, torque UCA to 37 lbs-ft.
There are few ways to remove the rivets and on this one, I let your brain or skills to do the work.
If the bolts are too short (corvette central), go to NAPA nd order grade 8 bolts. Yes, take all components with you. Once you get all installed, torque nuts to 13 lbs-ft. at ride height and grease up the new ball joints.
This is the way I did it but, not telling anyone this is the way you should do it.
This is the way Ive done it on my 92, 95 and 96.
Loose the upper ball joint nut from knuckle.
Loose UCA from frame
Ensure you save all alignments shims and mark them.
Grind off the rivets heads
Using a vice, punch out all four rivets.
Remove old ball joint
Install new components
BTW, torque UCA to 37 lbs-ft.
Last edited by PLRX; Oct 18, 2011 at 08:41 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
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ball joints
I ordered the complete kit from corvette america,upper ball joints,
lower ball joints,and bushings. Am I happy........NO!
I've been wrenching for over 35 years. Even the holes in the upper
ball joints don't line up with the holes in the upper control arm.
Two of the smaller holes of the ball joint line up with two of
the holes in the a-arm, but the two large holes on the ball joint
don't quite line up with the other two holes on the a-arm.
The tech people at corvette america need to research this
I'm then told to call back next week.
I called echlers just to get a second opinion,they say thats normal
to have to drill out two of the holes on the a-arm.
Certainly,somebody on this board has replaced their upper ball joints.
lower ball joints,and bushings. Am I happy........NO!
I've been wrenching for over 35 years. Even the holes in the upper
ball joints don't line up with the holes in the upper control arm.
Two of the smaller holes of the ball joint line up with two of
the holes in the a-arm, but the two large holes on the ball joint
don't quite line up with the other two holes on the a-arm.
The tech people at corvette america need to research this
I'm then told to call back next week.
I called echlers just to get a second opinion,they say thats normal
to have to drill out two of the holes on the a-arm.
Certainly,somebody on this board has replaced their upper ball joints.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Manuals may tell you to remove the rivets while on the car. Ive done this three times and there is no way it can be done while the UCA is attached to the Vettes frame.
There are few ways to remove the rivets and on this one, I let your brain or skills to do the work.
If the bolts are too short (corvette central), go to NAPA nd order grade 8 bolts. Yes, take all components with you. Once you get all installed, torque nuts to 13 lbs-ft. at ride height and grease up the new ball joints.
This is the way I did it but, not telling anyone this is the way you should do it.
This is the way Ive done it on my 92, 95 and 96.
Loose the upper ball joint nut from knuckle.
Loose UCA from frame
Ensure you save all alignments shims and mark them.
Grind off the rivets heads
Using a vice, punch out all four rivets.
Remove old ball joint
Install new components
BTW, torque UCA to 37 lbs-ft.
There are few ways to remove the rivets and on this one, I let your brain or skills to do the work.
If the bolts are too short (corvette central), go to NAPA nd order grade 8 bolts. Yes, take all components with you. Once you get all installed, torque nuts to 13 lbs-ft. at ride height and grease up the new ball joints.
This is the way I did it but, not telling anyone this is the way you should do it.
This is the way Ive done it on my 92, 95 and 96.
Loose the upper ball joint nut from knuckle.
Loose UCA from frame
Ensure you save all alignments shims and mark them.
Grind off the rivets heads
Using a vice, punch out all four rivets.
Remove old ball joint
Install new components
BTW, torque UCA to 37 lbs-ft.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Suggest you check out this thread. This guy has been there, done that - as have many others. And thanks to them, I just got the Moog ball joints to begin with & bypassed the aggravation of the Corvette America "stuff".
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I am so flippin glad that when I did mine I went and bought the Moog ball joints.
They had the right size bolts and the holes lined up perfectly.
They had the right size bolts and the holes lined up perfectly.
