Ball Joint Replacement???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
Ball Joint Replacement???
At what mileage shoud you consider replacing the upper and lower ball joints? I am in the process of installing poly-graphite bushings and was considering replacing the ball-joints at the same time. Has anyone here replaced the upper ball-joint. Do you have to drill out the rivits, and then replace them with bolts??? :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Ball Joint Replacement??? (BlackRocket)
My opinion is that if you are going to be updating other parts of the front suspension, you might as well go ahead and do the ball joints anyway. Its not too hard, and it can't hurt to do it before failure.
Yes, the procedure is to drill out the old rivets and replace them with bolts and nuts, but I think you may still be able to buy riveted ones if you need to maintain the "factory correctness" of the car. Its not too difficult, just be careful and unload the front spring before you start drilling or grinding away:) Good luck.
Yes, the procedure is to drill out the old rivets and replace them with bolts and nuts, but I think you may still be able to buy riveted ones if you need to maintain the "factory correctness" of the car. Its not too difficult, just be careful and unload the front spring before you start drilling or grinding away:) Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Ball Joint Replacement??? (BlackRocket)
The uppers are a piece of cake to replace. The lowers are another story altogether.
I changed my uppers last year in no time.
The lowers, I attacked a couple of weeks ago and took me a couple of hours per side.
I rented the tool (big "C" clamp looking arrangment) from AutoZone (free) with a $100 refundable deposit. Getting the old ones out was pretty easy, but pressing in the new ones was the time consuming part.
The trick is to make sure that the new joint is perfectly straight in the control arm hole in order for it to press in. If cocked even a little, it won't go.
Hope this helps.
Jake
I changed my uppers last year in no time.
The lowers, I attacked a couple of weeks ago and took me a couple of hours per side.
I rented the tool (big "C" clamp looking arrangment) from AutoZone (free) with a $100 refundable deposit. Getting the old ones out was pretty easy, but pressing in the new ones was the time consuming part.
The trick is to make sure that the new joint is perfectly straight in the control arm hole in order for it to press in. If cocked even a little, it won't go.
Hope this helps.
Jake
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: ca
Re: Ball Joint Replacement??? (JAKE)
Uppers rarley wear out , they carry a minimal load.
If you want to do the lowers....buy a balljoint press and grind the correct sleeve so it fits flush on the lower control arm. Been there , done that. If you modify the sleeve it makes the job SO much easier.
If you want to do the lowers....buy a balljoint press and grind the correct sleeve so it fits flush on the lower control arm. Been there , done that. If you modify the sleeve it makes the job SO much easier.
