HElp!!! Torn Lower ball Joint Boot
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Silicon Valley CA
HElp!!! Torn Lower ball Joint Boot
I was changing out the lowering bolts and, as usual, the lower control are wouldn't budge. I popped it with a pickle fork (spare me the I told ya so) and the ball joint boot tore
What now?
a. Order ball joint and attempt to install myself?
b. Remove lower control arm and drop it off at a shop to have BJ replaced.
c. Wrap in duct tape and motor on
d. Pack Vette with dynamite and drive off cliff because my simple projects always put my car out of commission for a week!
in a unrelated fiasco, I replaced my rear lowering bolts last week and now it feels like my rear suspension is bottoming out. I rechecked that everything was tightened. I even set the ride height HIGHER then it was before. Feels like the rear shocks are shot but they were fine before I messed with it.
Let the floggings begin......
What now?
a. Order ball joint and attempt to install myself?
b. Remove lower control arm and drop it off at a shop to have BJ replaced.
c. Wrap in duct tape and motor on
d. Pack Vette with dynamite and drive off cliff because my simple projects always put my car out of commission for a week!
in a unrelated fiasco, I replaced my rear lowering bolts last week and now it feels like my rear suspension is bottoming out. I rechecked that everything was tightened. I even set the ride height HIGHER then it was before. Feels like the rear shocks are shot but they were fine before I messed with it.
Let the floggings begin......
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Basically and usually have to replace the arm aas it's not a servicable item. With that said I was to be damned if I went for that crap and set out to replace just the BJ.
I ended up replacing the arm as that was a lot cheaper than the options I happened upon. Results may vary.
I ended up replacing the arm as that was a lot cheaper than the options I happened upon. Results may vary.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Silicon Valley CA
Any idea on a part #? Napa's website doesn't show a boot available only the ball joint. I'm guessing that I can change the boot while the LCA is still attached to the car? That's way easier than taking the LCA to a shop and having a new joint pressed.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Pickle forks usually damage the ball joint itself, not just the boot. I think you have a choice of pulling the arm and having a new ball joint pressed in or just replacing the arm, which includes the ball joint.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,974
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From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
No I don't off hand. just google one of the sources I listed for BJ boots and they will come up, they are a universal fit. carefully cut the old boot off, squirt some grease into the new boot and slide over the stud and replace the spindle.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Silicon Valley CA
No crack. Just a shadow but you had me freaked out enough to go check. Anyway, I took both front LCAs off and dropped them at the shop to have new BJs pressed in. Might as well do both at the same time.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Silicon Valley CA
