Upper Ball Joint question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 719
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From: Northern KY.... Just 3 hours to Las Vegas in a 767
Upper Ball Joint question
There is a rubber sleeve on the upper ball joints fitted between the ball joint
and the steering knuckle. On my car, both sides, the rubber is torn or gone completely. I believe these are just to hold the grease in place. Do I need to replace the whole ball joint? It looks like I could unbolt the ball joint from the knuckle, replace the rubber and bolt it back together. Am I making this too simple? There are no problems with the ball joints themselves, as far as I can tell. Any precautions needed or advide would be helpful...
and the steering knuckle. On my car, both sides, the rubber is torn or gone completely. I believe these are just to hold the grease in place. Do I need to replace the whole ball joint? It looks like I could unbolt the ball joint from the knuckle, replace the rubber and bolt it back together. Am I making this too simple? There are no problems with the ball joints themselves, as far as I can tell. Any precautions needed or advide would be helpful...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,128
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Upper Ball Joint question (4-ACES)
I found this old thread where someone says that all you have to do is seperate the ball joint from the spindle. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=590137
If you do have to replace the whole ball joint then you will need to drill out the rivets and have the new ball joint pressed in.
If you do have to replace the whole ball joint then you will need to drill out the rivets and have the new ball joint pressed in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Re: Upper Ball Joint question (NORMSTOY 89)
You can get just the boots from Summit or Jegs. These are the cheapest locations. For the part number of the boots, go to http://www.energysuspension.com.
Another option rather than drilling out the old ball joint is replacing the upper or lower control arms. I found the following:
Corvette Central: Upper Arm (including bushings & ball joints) $99 per side.
Mid America: Lower Arm (including bushings and ball joints) $149 per side.
Mid America is backordered right now...waiting for two myself.
:cheers:
Another option rather than drilling out the old ball joint is replacing the upper or lower control arms. I found the following:
Corvette Central: Upper Arm (including bushings & ball joints) $99 per side.
Mid America: Lower Arm (including bushings and ball joints) $149 per side.
Mid America is backordered right now...waiting for two myself.
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Upper Ball Joint question (4-ACES)
If you drill out the rivets on the uppers, you can bolt it back in place. Replacement uppers come with botls and nuts; no pressing needed.
It's the lowers that have to be pressed in. AutoZone rents the tool do do this with, but it's not quite as easy as you'd think. The ball joint has to be perfectly straight to press in, and even then takes some pretty good muscle.
The boots are necessary as they keep grit and grime from migrating into the joint which would accelerate wear; they're also a reservoir for the grease.
Uppers are a 'piece of cake'; or 'easy as pie' (depending on which dessert you like best)..
Jake
It's the lowers that have to be pressed in. AutoZone rents the tool do do this with, but it's not quite as easy as you'd think. The ball joint has to be perfectly straight to press in, and even then takes some pretty good muscle.
The boots are necessary as they keep grit and grime from migrating into the joint which would accelerate wear; they're also a reservoir for the grease.
Uppers are a 'piece of cake'; or 'easy as pie' (depending on which dessert you like best)..
Jake
