Upper & Lower Control Arms
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Upper & Lower Control Arms
I am thinking about replacing the Upper and Lower Control Arms on my 93. I have 154,000 miles on it and am going to be replacing the bushings soon. I was thinking about replacing the arms with new ball joints. I figure, since they need to come off, it might be easier replacing the arms instead of pressing out the ball joints and pressing in the new ones. I have found lower control arms with ball joints at MAD for $149 each and uppers with ball joints from Corvette Central for $99 each. How do these prices sound? Is it worth the extra $50 for each arm over just the ball joint and the work to press them into the existing arms? The bushings that come in the new arms will be knocked out, I am putting red polyurethane bushings in instead. Give me your input. Thanks in advance.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Upper & Lower Control Arms (Whitvette)
You can easily change the ball joints. Might as well since the control arms will be out of the car.
The ball jounts aren't pressed in. They are riveted in. You can drill the rivets out with a drill and ball jount will fall out in your hand.
New ones will come with some bolts to hold them back in. It's easier the second time. :) But you probably WON'T be the one to change them next time.
The ball jounts aren't pressed in. They are riveted in. You can drill the rivets out with a drill and ball jount will fall out in your hand.
New ones will come with some bolts to hold them back in. It's easier the second time. :) But you probably WON'T be the one to change them next time.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Upper & Lower Control Arms (VetNutJim)
Uppers are riveted - lowers are pressed in. GM Parts direct is right around $350ea for control arms w/joints. If you've got that manymiels and are redoing everything, remember to replace the tie rod ends too. good luck.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Re: Upper & Lower Control Arms (NavyVet)
Yeah, tie rods need to go as well. I just thought it would be easier to get new control arms with the joints already in them. This is my daily driver, so I need to be able to get it completed over a weekend. Since it takes more time to replace parts than what you set aside for yourself, I am looking at how I can make up some of that time. That, and my garage isn't very big, so I am limited in tools as well (like a vise to press in the lowers.).
