Ball joint replacement question
04-15-2011, 07:14 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: The Colony TX
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ball joint replacement question
I was under my car today and noticed my lower front right ball joint boot is torn and the grease is leaking out. GM said they don't offer just the ball joint. They said I would have to buy a whole lower a member. Which is ridiculious. I found one at NAPA for $115. I guess the question is would you trust a NAPA ball joint on your c6?
04-15-2011, 07:22 PM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,337
Received 1,919 Likes
on
1,332 Posts
I was under my car today and noticed my lower front right ball joint boot is torn and the grease is leaking out. GM said they don't offer just the ball joint. They said I would have to buy a whole lower a member. Which is ridiculious. I found one at NAPA for $115. I guess the question is would you trust a NAPA ball joint on your c6?
I did do this, front top and bottom, on my Explorer, and they were supposed to be press in only, requiring buying the whole A-arms with ball joints installed; however, you can, and I did, find ones I could press in and did it in my garage with a hand press.
If I had to do it over, i would just buy the whole A-arm with ball joint installed, the pressing is a minor PITA, and I am a busy guy.
Anyway, NAPA sold two types of ball joints for my Ex, one Chinese junk and the other a MOOG part, I went with the MOOG.
I have picked up some bad parts from NAPA over the years, so I understand your skepticism.
Have you checked with Gene Culley at GM parts house?
I would go GM is the price was no more than 150% of the NAPA part.
04-15-2011, 11:33 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
cranky
04-16-2011, 01:09 AM
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,337
Received 1,919 Likes
on
1,332 Posts
yes, just smack the knuckle with a hammer just below the nut on the side of the knuckle. might take a smack or two, but it will work. loosen the nut first, but leave it on the last few threads. you will see it drop down. the proper way is to use the press tool, but the hammer way works just fine. have done many, many this way without a problem. if you replace the ball joint, be sure of your press fit. would'nt want it coming loose during a high speed corner..................... cranky
crankyI have lots of uses for a BFH, but they don't include pressed in ball joints. YRMV
