Ball joints, Upper and Lower, help.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 83
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Ball joints, Upper and Lower, help.
Here I am about to change out my ball joints, I drill out the tops of the rivets(You know GM, oh how they love rivets) I'm thinking it's going to be a piece of cake.....all I did was manage to unbolt the castle nut from the upper ball joint LOL...and now I'm stuck.
So here I am asking for help and tips on how to tackle this job!!??
(Both lower and upper)
So here I am asking for help and tips on how to tackle this job!!??
(Both lower and upper)
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Tipp City Ohio
Planning on doing my front end late summer. Unsure what I've got ahead of me, difficulty wise.
I have a couple links here to articles that may be of some use...
http://www.ehow.com/how_7649253_repl...rvette-c4.html
http://www.smokinvette.com/corvettef...ad.php?t=18926
Last edited by Tony A.; Jul 10, 2011 at 10:47 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
I finally took one factory upper ball joint off, only to find out that more drilling is required to adapt the new ball joint with the bolts and screws...will probably take my control are to some place with a nicer drill.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 17
From: woodbury new jersey
ya the uppers are a royal PITA! getting the old rivets out took me and my dad about 2 days. putting the new ones in is easy as cake. the old ones are easy to get out and in if you have the tool. you can rent or borrow one from advance auto
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I took my upper and lower A-Arms to the machine shop.
They replaced the bushings in the upper with ones I supplied. drilled out the old ball joints.
Lower they pressed out the old and pressed in the new ball joints.
It wasn't much to have them done IIRC.
They replaced the bushings in the upper with ones I supplied. drilled out the old ball joints.
Lower they pressed out the old and pressed in the new ball joints.
It wasn't much to have them done IIRC.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2011
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I've found this method to work the best(After having 3 drill bits break inside the freaking rivets....sure delayed the drilling)
Drill the rivets until they are even with the surface of your control arm. Once to that point, block the underside of your upper control arm with a piece of wood, now have at it with a flat punch and BFH(sledgehammer lol) Originally I was completely drilling into the rivets and all the way down, why the drill bits were snapping.
Big thanks to my neighbor that came to the aid with some power tools. I will be buying him a new set of drill bits tomorrow to replace the 3 I broke :x.
Here is a pic of what I do best...........take on the challenge and hope I don't screw it up, I sure to plan to take the lower ball joints to someone!!!......or we'll see hahaha
P.S. turns out these damn aftermarkets upper ball joints, not only are the bolts thicker.....why I drilled!!!! But it turns out the freaking base is also alot wider! I will have to grind it down to fit it in!!! -.-
Last edited by VetteAholicC4; Jul 11, 2011 at 11:23 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Thats why I used Moog ball joints for my replacements. They fit perfectly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
I have a ball joint grease boot with a pinhole in it that's only going to get worse. My questions are:
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
I ended up buying another upper ball jonit set from auto zone, these actually freaking fit perfectly!!!!!!!!!! Project done, again my awesome neighbor came to the aid.I have a ball joint grease boot with a pinhole in it that's only going to get worse. My questions are:
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I have a ball joint grease boot with a pinhole in it that's only going to get worse. My questions are:
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
Is there a how-to or "sticky" anywhere about this operation?
Is it even worth all the hassle and down-time to do this myself, or should I just take the car to someone (that also does alignments)? What is the cost?
If you want minimal downtime contact vette2vette and see if they still have the NOS A-Arms. Order them, when they arrive do the replacement yourself or take parts to your favorite shop. It will be less of a hassle and the same or less in expense.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 165
From: Motor City
This is the route i'm going....Must easier to repalce control arms and they have OEM GM balljoints as well as new OEM control arm bushings. Price-wise, it may be cheaper then buying MOOG units and replacing by yourself.
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/436.htm
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/436.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Done it four times, works like charm and faster.
Remove UPC.
Grind UBJ's rivets' heads out.
Remove UBJ.
Grind or cut the excess of rivet off the UPC. Try not to grind the aluminum.
Punch out the old rivet.
Install new UBJ and torque to 13 ft lbs.
Install UPC.
Torque UPC bolts to frame to 37 ft lbs.
Torque UBJ to knuckle to XX lbs ft (look the FSM or HM).
Grease new UBJ.
Torque front wheel to 100 lbs ft.
Remove UPC.
Grind UBJ's rivets' heads out.
Remove UBJ.
Grind or cut the excess of rivet off the UPC. Try not to grind the aluminum.
Punch out the old rivet.
Install new UBJ and torque to 13 ft lbs.
Install UPC.
Torque UPC bolts to frame to 37 ft lbs.
Torque UBJ to knuckle to XX lbs ft (look the FSM or HM).
Grease new UBJ.
Torque front wheel to 100 lbs ft.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 26
From: San Antonio, TX
Done it four times, works like charm and faster.
Remove UPC.
Grind UBJ's rivets' heads out.
Remove UBJ.
Grind or cut the excess of rivet off the UPC. Try not to grind the aluminum.
Punch out the old rivet.
Install new UBJ and torque to 13 ft lbs.
Install UPC.
Torque UPC bolts to frame to 37 ft lbs.
Torque UBJ to knuckle to XX lbs ft (look the FSM or HM).
Grease new UBJ.
Torque front wheel to 100 lbs ft.
Remove UPC.
Grind UBJ's rivets' heads out.
Remove UBJ.
Grind or cut the excess of rivet off the UPC. Try not to grind the aluminum.
Punch out the old rivet.
Install new UBJ and torque to 13 ft lbs.
Install UPC.
Torque UPC bolts to frame to 37 ft lbs.
Torque UBJ to knuckle to XX lbs ft (look the FSM or HM).
Grease new UBJ.
Torque front wheel to 100 lbs ft.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 328
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 26
From: San Antonio, TX
Yea, from the posts it seems that some of the joints that claim to be "OEM standard" aren't the right fit. The MAS joints fit pretty well for ya?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 328
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 26
From: San Antonio, TX
Looks like I'm going with MAS for the time being, it saves almost $200 when compared to the Moogs. Is there really that much of a difference between the two? I didn't think the joints would effect the ride or performance that much but then again I'm new to all this so *shrug*