great idea!
Lower Ball Joint Removal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Lower Ball Joint Removal
I'm rebuilding the front suspension on my 85 with new ball joints tie rods and bushings. The only snag I've run into is separating the lower ball joint from the lower arm. Does the ball joint have to be pressed out and a new one pressed in?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach Florida
383vett.. Nice setup for removal...
.. Is there an easy way to get the new one on.... Can I just place the new one in and draw it in by tightening the nut?? Or do I need to buy a special tool to press it in??
Thank you
.. Is there an easy way to get the new one on.... Can I just place the new one in and draw it in by tightening the nut?? Or do I need to buy a special tool to press it in??Thank you
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,700
Likes: 3,469
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Are you talking about seperating the ball joint from the knuckle, or removing it from the control arm? 383Vette's method will get it out of the knuckle, but a proper ball joint press is needed to get it out of the control arm.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
Most auto machine shops have the set-ups to press ball joints in/out of the control arms. Assuming you pull the arms ands bring them to the shop - the prices are typically quite reasonable. I think I paid $40 or $50 to have old ball joints pressed out and new ball joints pressed in.
To do the job correctly - you not only need the press, you also need the adapters for supporting the arm and applying the load to the ball joint itself.
Years ago - I tried it myself, but I didn't have the correct adapters, so I tried pressing on the ball joint stud itself. I drove the stud through the bottom of the ball joint, but the ball joint itself didn't budge. At that point I decided that the $$$$ spent at the machine shop was actually quite reasonable.
To do the job correctly - you not only need the press, you also need the adapters for supporting the arm and applying the load to the ball joint itself.
Years ago - I tried it myself, but I didn't have the correct adapters, so I tried pressing on the ball joint stud itself. I drove the stud through the bottom of the ball joint, but the ball joint itself didn't budge. At that point I decided that the $$$$ spent at the machine shop was actually quite reasonable.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
I need to get the ball joint out of the control arm. I have the knuckles and lower control arms out and sitting on the bench. It was pretty easy to separate the ball joints from the knuckles.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Looks like I'll be taking them to a local suspension shop to have them pressed in. Thanks for the reply.