How do you remove upper ball joints?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
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From: sw Ohio
How do you remove upper ball joints?
Did a search and not much help. Everyone says to drill out the rivets, ok I see 4 huge rivets holding each one on there. I have never drilled out a rivet like this before. I drilled out one side but I can not tell the difference between the rivet and the control arm itself, they look like they're welded together. Am I supposed to drill all the way through???
Another question, is there something I can use other than a hydraulic press to push the bushings and lower ball joints out? No one seems to have one of these in my area.
Another question, is there something I can use other than a hydraulic press to push the bushings and lower ball joints out? No one seems to have one of these in my area.
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ball joints
I have did my share of ball joints. I have did it with an air hammer or a BFH. This way I have not liked the results due to cosmetic damage that occurs.
With that being said, I prefer to have them pressed out and new pressed back in. Doesnt cost much. Im much happier with the job this way.
Drill or cold chisel on the rivets. Good luck.
Mike
With that being said, I prefer to have them pressed out and new pressed back in. Doesnt cost much. Im much happier with the job this way.
Drill or cold chisel on the rivets. Good luck.
Mike
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 545
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From: st albert alberta
for the top ball joints Use a center punch and dimple the middle of the rivet and just drill the rivets out ,its so easy a caveman can do it.The lower ones you should really use a ball joint press to avoid damaging the aluminum control arm.The press looks like a big c-clamp and it has sleeves to press in and out the ball joint,you can either rent on or buy one from harbor freight for about $100 .the same tool can also be also used to replace u-joints.wow i just checked harbor freight and the balljoint press is only $34
Last edited by makn u shiver; Mar 8, 2009 at 12:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I have did my share of ball joints. I have did it with an air hammer or a BFH. This way I have not liked the results due to cosmetic damage that occurs.
With that being said, I prefer to have them pressed out and new pressed back in. Doesnt cost much. Im much happier with the job this way.
Drill or cold chisel on the rivets. Good luck.
Mike
With that being said, I prefer to have them pressed out and new pressed back in. Doesnt cost much. Im much happier with the job this way.
Drill or cold chisel on the rivets. Good luck.
Mike
I'm trying to drill the rivets but they look like they're part of the control arm. I started off with a small pilot hole and moved up to a larger bit and grounded off most of the head, then used a hammer and a punch to break off the edges. I tried punching out the center of the rivet but it just makes dents. I figured if I kept going I was going to damage the control arm.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
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From: Tampa Florida
I dont have any air tools, but I do have a BFH
I'm trying to drill the rivets but they look like they're part of the control arm. I started off with a small pilot hole and moved up to a larger bit and grounded off most of the head, then used a hammer and a punch to break off the edges. I tried punching out the center of the rivet but it just makes dents. I figured if I kept going I was going to damage the control arm.
I'm trying to drill the rivets but they look like they're part of the control arm. I started off with a small pilot hole and moved up to a larger bit and grounded off most of the head, then used a hammer and a punch to break off the edges. I tried punching out the center of the rivet but it just makes dents. I figured if I kept going I was going to damage the control arm.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: sw Ohio
I finished drilling all the way through, got a nice hole now. I tried punching it out but it just dents inward like soft aluminum, not actually getting pushed out. The punch actually got stuck in the rivet and I had to pull it out with the claw of the hammer. The only way I see to do this is to get a larger bit and hope like hell that I dont get into the control arm itself.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
If you grind the heads off and peen a correct exact center of each rivet you can just drill the rivet out starting with smaller then work your way uo to the larger bits until you get the correct hole size....no hammering required this way.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: sw Ohio
I do not have a shop press, only hand tools. I think the bits i'm using are for wood/drywall, but it doesnt seem to hurt the bit. I guess thats why it takes so long to cut through them. It sucks having all the parts but not the tools to do it with.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
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I took the lower ball joints to a machine shop. It was like $10 a piece to remove and install them. Which is less than buying your own press. The uppers, I ground the heads off and pounded the rivets out with a punch. You may want to try a little bit of heat on the rivets. That might break them loose. Or, you could take the uppers to the machine shop and see if they'll press them out for you.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 28
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From: Dubai
Demonic
To remove the bushings from the control arms, use a piece of threaded rod, use some washers to pack the end you arent pulling out and on the end that you are place a socket with outer diameter same as the bushing. Pack that end with washers start turning nuts at either end and presto home made press for next to nothing.
Play around with it all some and you will realise it has plenty of applications, and its great if you dont have access to a press like me.
Cheers
To remove the bushings from the control arms, use a piece of threaded rod, use some washers to pack the end you arent pulling out and on the end that you are place a socket with outer diameter same as the bushing. Pack that end with washers start turning nuts at either end and presto home made press for next to nothing.
Play around with it all some and you will realise it has plenty of applications, and its great if you dont have access to a press like me.
Cheers
