Ball Joint Q
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 188
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From: Hatboro PA
Ball Joint Q
So today as I'm finishing up replacing the starter... I look up, and notice a big rip in my upper ball joint rubber. So...
Can I replace just the cover and should be fine? Or should I just suck it up and start drilling out the old ball joint? And, anyone know a part # or size for a poly urethane ball joint cover? Or, should I just order that whole ball joint kit?
Can I replace just the cover and should be fine? Or should I just suck it up and start drilling out the old ball joint? And, anyone know a part # or size for a poly urethane ball joint cover? Or, should I just order that whole ball joint kit?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Hatboro PA
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspens...3265095&sr=1-1
poly ball joint covers... in black. that blue in the pic is nearly the same blue as my car, would be cool if i could find the part number for those.
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspens...ar=1&carId=001
in red...
poly ball joint covers... in black. that blue in the pic is nearly the same blue as my car, would be cool if i could find the part number for those.
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Suspens...ar=1&carId=001
in red...
Last edited by rickhigginshtbr; Apr 19, 2011 at 10:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Be careful when drilling the stock rivets. You do not need to drill all the way though. Just drill the heads off and tap the center core out with a punch. If you try going all the way though with a drill bit chances are you are going to go off center of the rivet body and elongate the aluminum control arm rivet hole and trash the control arm.
The ball joint rivet does not go straight down. It goes down at an angle. It's very difficult for your to stay on center drilling down from above and still come out on center at the bottom side.
The ball joint rivet does not go straight down. It goes down at an angle. It's very difficult for your to stay on center drilling down from above and still come out on center at the bottom side.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Hatboro PA
so I take it on the uppers there's no way possible to replace the boot without the ball joint coming out? Just separated it from the spindle and starred at it blankly for 15 minutes... didn't rip open the bottoms yet (might as well do them too), but can that boot be replaced without removing the ball joint?
And yea, all aware of the ball joint issues on aluminum arms... Was refurbishing aluminum arms for n-bodies with poly bushings for a few people... wasn't fun.
And yea, all aware of the ball joint issues on aluminum arms... Was refurbishing aluminum arms for n-bodies with poly bushings for a few people... wasn't fun.
