Lower ball joint Question

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Jun 28, 2005 | 01:56 PM

myblue91

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Racer

Joined: May 2004

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From: Olalla Wa

Lower ball joint Question

Hi guys, my 91 needs new lower ball joints. I want to take both lower a-arms off ,and have a shop r&r the ball joints. Looking at my Helm's manual it shows the need for a spring compressor tool etc. Can't I just support the spring with my floor jack,remove the "stuff" from the knuckle and remove the a-arm?

Jun 28, 2005 | 02:49 PM

CFI-EFI

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From: The Top of Utah

Quote:

Originally Posted by myblue91

Can't I just support the spring with my floor jack,remove the "stuff" from the knuckle and remove the a-arm?

YES! While you are removing the "stuff" from the "A" arm, you will want to have the floor jack supporting the outer end of the "A" frame (arm). When it is all disconnected, gently lower the jack. The lower "A" frame will pivot down from the spring. Remove the bolts at the chassis, and it's out.

RACE ON!!!

Jun 28, 2005 | 03:04 PM

myblue91

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Racer

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From: Olalla Wa

CFI-EFI- thanks,that's good news

Jun 28, 2005 | 03:13 PM

CentralCoaster

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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed

To add to that...

The spring will still be loaded as long as the shock is on there. If you remove the shock, the spring will pull the suspension down really far, might even damage the upper balljoints... so this has to be disconnected first.

So yeah, put the jack under the lower control arm until you remove everything from it. Watch out, there's a zerk fitting under there you don't want to snap off.

If you have non-z51 springs, you might need to lift the front end a little higher, those springs have a ton of arch at full extension.

I use a "pitman arm puller" to seperate the ball joint. Can rent it at autozone for free, just ask for it by name. Another method is to use the spring force to pull the balljoint out.

Jun 28, 2005 | 04:21 PM

LaVidaLoca

Pro

Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Yukon OK

You can use the jack OR I jacked the car up enough to put a smaller jack stand under the spring and then let it down until the spring was supported.

Also, I used a small wood block to protect the spring from the metal jack stand.

Jun 28, 2005 | 05:02 PM

myblue91

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Racer

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From: Olalla Wa

Great information guys,Thanks

Jun 28, 2005 | 06:00 PM

Corvette Kid

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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LaVidaLoca

Also, I used a small wood block to protect the spring from the metal jack stand.

A definite anytime you're jacking on these fiberglass springs!

Jun 28, 2005 | 06:28 PM

CFI-EFI

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From: The Top of Utah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC

A definite anytime you're jacking on these fiberglass springs!

To clarify, I had the the front section of the frame on jack stands. I used the floor jack to jack up the "A" frame. The jack never touched the spring. Raising the lower "A" frame compressed the spring and put the load on the jack. After the ball joints were released from the knuckle and the shock was disconnected, I lowered the jack until the spring was stopped by the spring protector. That relieved the spring load from the "A" frame. I even put a folded rag on the end of the spring protector to prevent it from marring the spring.

RACE ON!!!