upper ball joint problems
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,151
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From: Strongsville Ohio
upper ball joint problems
did the bottoms of the front but the upper ball joint is giving me trouble. I took the cut off tool and grinded the rivets off the TOP. I took the grease fitting off and can't seem to POP the top of the ball joint off. Do I have to grind off the bottom of the upper ball joint rivets? I am confused how to get these off. PLease help guys.
Safety Car
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From: Los Angeles CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Tampa Florida
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,151
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From: Strongsville Ohio
WOW> What a friggen pain. I landed up taking the upper control are off and working on it that way. Once I pried the top of the ball joint off, I then used the cut off tool to cut off the exposed rivet. Then took a hammer and I guess metal rod and went to work jammin the rivet out. I got one side done in about 2 hours. The next side is due tomorrow.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
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From: Tampa Florida
WOW> What a friggen pain. I landed up taking the upper control are off and working on it that way. Once I pried the top of the ball joint off, I then used the cut off tool to cut off the exposed rivet. Then took a hammer and I guess metal rod and went to work jammin the rivet out. I got one side done in about 2 hours. The next side is due tomorrow.
big fun - I hope you marked your "A" arm's shims location/positionbefore you pulled them-
Keep at it.
Hit the alignment shop once your done.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Strongsville Ohio
YEAHHHHH...ummmm....the A-arms...well I forgot to take a pic of the shims in the arms. I looked at the other side to compare but the other side is not the same. What should I do now?
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Drifting
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Instructor
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From: Pittsburgh Penna.
The easiest way I've found is to grind off the top of the rivets like you did. I then used a punch to push the rivet out completely. Once you have the rivet out the ball joint will fall out.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Strongsville Ohio
Sorry. I got them all out. Same method.
1). grind off top rivets
2). tap top ball joint cover off
3). take off the control arm in the car and place on the ground
4). Take a strait tap or metal screw or anything skinny enough to go through the control arm rivet holes and pound the rivets through and out
5). wiggle entire ball joint out
6). drink a beer, clean a prep for new ball joints
1). grind off top rivets
2). tap top ball joint cover off
3). take off the control arm in the car and place on the ground
4). Take a strait tap or metal screw or anything skinny enough to go through the control arm rivet holes and pound the rivets through and out
5). wiggle entire ball joint out
6). drink a beer, clean a prep for new ball joints
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Tampa Florida
An alignment is still recommended after work is complete.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,151
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From: Strongsville Ohio
Good idea. It was more of a " rip them out " to make the rivet removal easier kinda thing. Then I learned my lesson later with the shims. Owell. I just hope my motor starts when I drop it in.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Haslet Texas
The real PITA was doing the lower ones...
