Ball Joint Questions
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 105
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Ball Joint Questions
I'm a bit confused on ball joints -
First off - I can't tell if the upper/lower & front/rear are same/different?
Some suppliers have a set that appears they are all the same.
the parts.gmparts.com site has front upper and lower and they are different p/n's - no listing for rears
Rockauto only has a single rear upper, no listing for rear lower
parts-catalog.acdelco.com has different p/n's for FU/FL and RU, but no listing for rear lower (RL)
Which makes? I was thinking Moog, Delco, Delphi, OEM?
Priority on replacement - the boots on my lowers are starting to crack, the uppers look ok.
Install - it appears that install/removal is straight forward with the right tool
there's a harbor freight tool that looks good, saw it used on a youtube C5 video
https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-j...les-63279.html
I'm primarily tracking the car.
Thanks for the help!
Greg
First off - I can't tell if the upper/lower & front/rear are same/different?
Some suppliers have a set that appears they are all the same.
the parts.gmparts.com site has front upper and lower and they are different p/n's - no listing for rears
Rockauto only has a single rear upper, no listing for rear lower
parts-catalog.acdelco.com has different p/n's for FU/FL and RU, but no listing for rear lower (RL)
Which makes? I was thinking Moog, Delco, Delphi, OEM?
Priority on replacement - the boots on my lowers are starting to crack, the uppers look ok.
Install - it appears that install/removal is straight forward with the right tool
there's a harbor freight tool that looks good, saw it used on a youtube C5 video
https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-j...les-63279.html
I'm primarily tracking the car.
Thanks for the help!
Greg
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 105
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Uppers F/R are same
Lowers F/R are same
I ended up using a mix of
Moog K6537 Lowers front & rear
Moog K500134 and AC Delco 19329420 for the uppers
These were identical dimensionally to the units I removed.
I could not tell any noteworthy quality difference between the Delco’s and the Moog uppers.
The Harbor freight‘s ball joint separator worked mostly OK on getting the knuckles separated.
Once I started running out of patience we moved to the primitive techniques 💪
Since I wasn’t trying to save the ball joints I was removing I used a good old fashion pickle fork and 5lb mallet.I used the ball joint install rental kit from Advanced Auto to press out the old ones from the c-arms and press in the new ones.
My wife and I were both delighted I did not have to use a kitchen appliance to heat or freeze anything 😂
Greg
Lowers F/R are same
I ended up using a mix of
Moog K6537 Lowers front & rear
Moog K500134 and AC Delco 19329420 for the uppers
These were identical dimensionally to the units I removed.
I could not tell any noteworthy quality difference between the Delco’s and the Moog uppers.
The Harbor freight‘s ball joint separator worked mostly OK on getting the knuckles separated.
Once I started running out of patience we moved to the primitive techniques 💪
Since I wasn’t trying to save the ball joints I was removing I used a good old fashion pickle fork and 5lb mallet.I used the ball joint install rental kit from Advanced Auto to press out the old ones from the c-arms and press in the new ones.
My wife and I were both delighted I did not have to use a kitchen appliance to heat or freeze anything 😂
Greg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 913
From: Baie-D'Urfe, Quebec
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
good info! saved for future reference. I presume you wrap the boots (lowers) in reflective tape, along with the tie rod ends...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 414
From: Ruskin, FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 913
From: Baie-D'Urfe, Quebec
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
It helps protect the rubber boots which get baked by the brakes when the car is tracked. Especially fronts, which get hottest.
Actually, probably more so, when the car pits after being on track and there's no more cooling airflow...
Some people make thin sheetmetal heat shields, but wrapping with chrome/reflective tape (Dollar Store) works well and is very easy. Surprisingly, they stay snug for a long time.
The upper ball joints don't need protection because they are further away and protected, being on the insides of the uprights...but the lowers and tie rod ends are particularly vulnerable being so close to the discs
Actually, probably more so, when the car pits after being on track and there's no more cooling airflow...
Some people make thin sheetmetal heat shields, but wrapping with chrome/reflective tape (Dollar Store) works well and is very easy. Surprisingly, they stay snug for a long time.
The upper ball joints don't need protection because they are further away and protected, being on the insides of the uprights...but the lowers and tie rod ends are particularly vulnerable being so close to the discs
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,662
I'm a bit confused on ball joints -
First off - I can't tell if the upper/lower & front/rear are same/different?
Some suppliers have a set that appears they are all the same.
the parts.gmparts.com site has front upper and lower and they are different p/n's - no listing for rears
Rockauto only has a single rear upper, no listing for rear lower
parts-catalog.acdelco.com has different p/n's for FU/FL and RU, but no listing for rear lower (RL)
Which makes? I was thinking Moog, Delco, Delphi, OEM?
Priority on replacement - the boots on my lowers are starting to crack, the uppers look ok.
Install - it appears that install/removal is straight forward with the right tool
there's a harbor freight tool that looks good, saw it used on a youtube C5 video
https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-j...les-63279.html
I'm primarily tracking the car.
Thanks for the help!
Greg
First off - I can't tell if the upper/lower & front/rear are same/different?
Some suppliers have a set that appears they are all the same.
the parts.gmparts.com site has front upper and lower and they are different p/n's - no listing for rears
Rockauto only has a single rear upper, no listing for rear lower
parts-catalog.acdelco.com has different p/n's for FU/FL and RU, but no listing for rear lower (RL)
Which makes? I was thinking Moog, Delco, Delphi, OEM?
Priority on replacement - the boots on my lowers are starting to crack, the uppers look ok.
Install - it appears that install/removal is straight forward with the right tool
there's a harbor freight tool that looks good, saw it used on a youtube C5 video
https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-j...les-63279.html
I'm primarily tracking the car.
Thanks for the help!
Greg
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