Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please!
Just as it says, I need to replace a front driver's side ball joint. I only have about 2-3 days to get it done (don't see how I can't get it done in half a day easy though, but then again thats why I am here)
I know I can just remove the A-Arm and take it to a shop and have it pressed in.
But what if I want to do it all myself?
How/Tips/Tricks?
Thanks guys, I am gonna be a little rushed on this one!
TIA
I know I can just remove the A-Arm and take it to a shop and have it pressed in.
But what if I want to do it all myself?
How/Tips/Tricks?
Thanks guys, I am gonna be a little rushed on this one!
TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
I feel your pain on this job. I need to do mine as well. Instead of getting new ball joints, I bought new lower A-arms (Mid America, $149 per side). Anyway, here is a site that another member posted about how to lower your Vette, it has some great info on how to remove the tension on the spring to be able to remove the lower A-Arm: http://webpages.charter.net/khasting.../lowering.html
You may want to replace your bushings as well, since you have the arm off the car.
Good luck!!
:cheers:
You may want to replace your bushings as well, since you have the arm off the car.
Good luck!!
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
Just as it says, I need to replace a front driver's side ball joint. I only have about 2-3 days to get it done (don't see how I can't get it done in half a day easy though, but then again thats why I am here)
I know I can just remove the A-Arm and take it to a shop and have it pressed in.
But what if I want to do it all myself?
How/Tips/Tricks?
Thanks guys, I am gonna be a little rushed on this one!
TIA
I know I can just remove the A-Arm and take it to a shop and have it pressed in.
But what if I want to do it all myself?
How/Tips/Tricks?
Thanks guys, I am gonna be a little rushed on this one!
TIA
The $25 the brake shop charged me to press out the old ball joint and press the new one in was the bargain of the century.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Maryville IL
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
I just did my car and my brothers. I bought the ball joints from ecklers. Took them to the local machine shop and they charged $20 per ball joint to press in the new. I followed the details in the haynes manual. The good news is after you do it once, the second time its a breeze.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (85loub)
So there is no way to do the lower one (it isn't riveted right?), without removing the A-arm?
Thanks for the info so far!
Thanks for the info so far!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
Lower one is pressed in, upper one is riveted. You could probably try to do it without removing, but GOD isn't going to like the language you use!!! :lolg:
Hardest part of removing the arm is removing the tension from the spring. After that, it should be easy.
:smash:
Hardest part of removing the arm is removing the tension from the spring. After that, it should be easy.
:smash:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
So there is no way to do the lower one (it isn't riveted right?), without removing the A-arm?
Thanks for the info so far!
Thanks for the info so far!
[Modified by Frizlefrak, 2:59 PM 3/12/2004]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (Whitvette)
:lolg:
Thats why I do the work on saturday, so I can go to church sunday and get out of the dog house!
So how long then to pull an a-arm then?
Thats why I do the work on saturday, so I can go to church sunday and get out of the dog house!
So how long then to pull an a-arm then?
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
:lolg:
Thats why I do the work on saturday, so I can go to church sunday and get out of the dog house!
So how long then to pull an a-arm then?
Thats why I do the work on saturday, so I can go to church sunday and get out of the dog house!
So how long then to pull an a-arm then?
[Modified by Frizlefrak, 3:03 PM 3/12/2004]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (Frizlefrak)
Alright, thats no big deal then. Hopefully I can find one of those 10-20$ shops to do the press in too.
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
I changed both my lowers in half a day using a free rental tool from AutoZone. I did them with the arms still on the car.
The uppers were a piece of cake; just drilled out the rivets and used the nuts and bolts that came with the new ones to do the install. Make sure you use a drill bit intended for metal, not wood, and that it's sharp.
I don't understand why some seem to have problems changing the uppers. I've changed them on other models too, and all were easy.
Removing the old lower ones was pretty easy, it was getting the new ones started that took the time.
The trick is to make sure the new ball joint is perfectly centered in the "A" arm hole before you begin tightening the press on tool. Once the new ball joint beings to go in, it's just a matter on arm strength.
Jake
The uppers were a piece of cake; just drilled out the rivets and used the nuts and bolts that came with the new ones to do the install. Make sure you use a drill bit intended for metal, not wood, and that it's sharp.
I don't understand why some seem to have problems changing the uppers. I've changed them on other models too, and all were easy.
Removing the old lower ones was pretty easy, it was getting the new ones started that took the time.
The trick is to make sure the new ball joint is perfectly centered in the "A" arm hole before you begin tightening the press on tool. Once the new ball joint beings to go in, it's just a matter on arm strength.
Jake
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (USAsOnlyWay)
Alright, thats no big deal then. Hopefully I can find one of those 10-20$ shops to do the press in too.
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Az
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (Whitvette)
Lower one is pressed in, upper one is riveted. You could probably try to do it without removing, but GOD isn't going to like the language you use!!! :lolg:
Hardest part of removing the arm is removing the tension from the spring. After that, it should be easy.
:smash:
Hardest part of removing the arm is removing the tension from the spring. After that, it should be easy.
:smash:
Yep, :iagree:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw TX
Re: Front Lower Ball Joint Removal/Install Tips Please! (Frizlefrak)
I had to replace both lower ball joints several years ago and having purchased the press for U-joints found that it also had fixtures for ball joints. I did not remove the lower arms and was able to fashion a ball joint splitter with a bolt, two nuts and a washer to press on the ball joint studs. Took between and hour and an hour and a half to do both sides. Spent most of the time trying to get the press and all the fittings needed to stay together until I could get some pressure on them. Definitely doable in the garage, but you gotta have the right tool.
