Upper Ball joint boots
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Upper Ball joint boots
Hello all,
I did a search and found very little on replacing the boot of the upper ball joints. On my 96, the upper ball joints seem to be fine with no abnormal movement, but the rubber boots are torn. Can the boots be replace with the poly ones shown in some vendor catalogs? Also, do the joints have to be removed (ie the rivets drilled out) or can I just remove the stud nut, slid off the knuckle from the stud bolt, and slide the new boot on? If I have to remove the ball joints, I might as well go ahead and replace them, but would rather just replace the boot if I can.
thanks much
Steve
I did a search and found very little on replacing the boot of the upper ball joints. On my 96, the upper ball joints seem to be fine with no abnormal movement, but the rubber boots are torn. Can the boots be replace with the poly ones shown in some vendor catalogs? Also, do the joints have to be removed (ie the rivets drilled out) or can I just remove the stud nut, slid off the knuckle from the stud bolt, and slide the new boot on? If I have to remove the ball joints, I might as well go ahead and replace them, but would rather just replace the boot if I can.
thanks much
Steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: Wichita KS
Re: Upper Ball joint boots (96GhostLT4)
You only need to separate the ball joint from the spindle, nothing more. Then you can use a flat-blade screwdriver to pop the old boots off. There is a metal retaining ring that the boot is bonded into. Just get the screwdriver on the edge of the retainer & pry it off. I replaced mine with a set of Energy Suspension Urethane boots as you can see in the pic...Also I did try but the new boots will not fit correctly with the old boots or retainers left in place, they need to be removed.
BTW; Thanks to forum member Widebody for donating the urethane boots.
BTW; Thanks to forum member Widebody for donating the urethane boots.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Upper Ball joint boots (96GhostLT4)
I haven't been through the exercise personally, but the manual suggests that if the seal/boot is torn or cut, the ball stud must be replaced. It doesn't read like a fun job. Good luck........
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: Wichita KS
Re: Upper Ball joint boots (1MoorTym)
I've had the Del-Alum's back in for a couple weeks. They are great, no comparison. Very precise feel during turn in, very easy to place the car exactly where you want to be.
