Press in ball joint replacement on GW UCAs
12-08-2018, 08:27 PM
#1
Press in ball joint replacement on GW UCAs Hey guys, I have an email into Global West and would've called but cust support isnt open on weekends. Anyway, on my Cutlass I have the GW neg roll upper control arms and am curious if anyone has replaced the press in ball joints they have. There doesnt seem to be a lot of meat to get leverage in order to press them out. There isnt anything wrong with the ball joint I was curious if swapping to a tall ball joint would be feasible. Thanks!
12-08-2018, 09:06 PM
#2
TECH Senior Member
Your best bet is to wait until Monday and call Global West to get the gospel on upper ball joints, as you DO want to put tall uppers in there to get that geometry right...
12-09-2018, 01:39 AM
#4
I’m not sure what you mean by not enough leverage. The GW ball joints are definitely replaceable. You’re either going to use one of those giant C clamps or a shop press to remove/replace them.
If you like tinkering with suspension dial-in, this would be a good time to look at Howe BJs. They’re rebuildable and once the housing is pressed in you can swap between stock/+0.5/+0.9 ball studs without having to press the housing off.
If you like tinkering with suspension dial-in, this would be a good time to look at Howe BJs. They’re rebuildable and once the housing is pressed in you can swap between stock/+0.5/+0.9 ball studs without having to press the housing off.
12-09-2018, 09:05 AM
#5
They are a press-in lower ballpoint from another GM application, They press-in and out like any normal application, using a press. I have had the CNR-88 arms since around 99.
Are you going with 1/2" longer upper, 1/2" longer lower? Have you already found longer ones for the uppers?
Are you going with 1/2" longer upper, 1/2" longer lower? Have you already found longer ones for the uppers?
12-09-2018, 09:29 AM
#6
12-10-2018, 01:14 PM
#7
Welp, just got off the phone with GW and the ball joint has a weld in retaining ring and if it needs to be replaced for any reason they recommend sending it back to them and having them do it. Plus, even if I could get the ball joint out GW doesnt have a tall ball joint they can recommend for this UCA. Here is the ball joint they use, which is actually a lower ball joint, if anyone is curious:
Moog k6157
Moog k6157
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12-10-2018, 03:04 PM
#10
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Andrew
12-10-2018, 03:32 PM
#14
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Andrew
12-10-2018, 04:02 PM
#15
Right, but KORE has C6 brake kits that bolt right up to the stock spindle (as well as the Speedtech spindle), I don't want dropped front spindles (even if it's just an inch) and I should come out about $800 ahead not going with the Speedtech parts. And since it's gonna cost about that much to get my HPI chassis brace kit installed it works out great. lol Now, if someone were to put a used pair of Speedtech spindles and steering arms up for sale on protouring or lateral-g I'd have to take a close look at them 
12-10-2018, 04:25 PM
#16
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Right, but KORE has C6 brake kits that bolt right up to the stock spindle (as well as the Speedtech spindle), I don't want dropped front spindles (even if it's just an inch) and I should come out about $800 ahead not going with the Speedtech parts. And since it's gonna cost about that much to get my HPI chassis brace kit installed it works out great. lol Now, if someone were to put a used pair of Speedtech spindles and steering arms up for sale on protouring or lateral-g I'd have to take a close look at them
I think you need new control arms to use the stock spindles.
Andrew
12-10-2018, 08:53 PM
#18
Well it’s too bad GW makes these arms out to be impossible to service (except by them, what are the odds right?).
Anyhow, you would probably be ahead of the game with new arms as you’re planning now. I’m running SPC UCA+LCA with Howe tall BJs and a Kore3 C5 setup on stock spindles on my 67 A body and its an awesome, somewhat budget friendly setup.
Anyhow, you would probably be ahead of the game with new arms as you’re planning now. I’m running SPC UCA+LCA with Howe tall BJs and a Kore3 C5 setup on stock spindles on my 67 A body and its an awesome, somewhat budget friendly setup.
12-10-2018, 09:47 PM
#19
Yeah, it sucks cause the arms only have 500 miles on them, they may be old but they're in perfect shape. Oh well, when I got them they were the hot ticket but time marches on. I also have their LCAs so may be in the same boat if I ever need to replace those ball joints lol
Glad to hear you like the KORE/SPC combo, if the Speedtech spindles and arms were closer to $1000 it would be an easier pill to swallow. When I reached out to MCB to get a quote for black Friday the spindles and arms were $1580. They look like great pieces but I'm trying to be somewhat budget conscious.
Glad to hear you like the KORE/SPC combo, if the Speedtech spindles and arms were closer to $1000 it would be an easier pill to swallow. When I reached out to MCB to get a quote for black Friday the spindles and arms were $1580. They look like great pieces but I'm trying to be somewhat budget conscious.
12-10-2018, 09:56 PM
#20
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Yeah, it sucks cause the arms only have 500 miles on them, they may be old but they're in perfect shape. Oh well, when I got them they were the hot ticket but time marches on. I also have their LCAs so may be in the same boat if I ever need to replace those ball joints lol
Glad to hear you like the KORE/SPC combo, if the Speedtech spindles and arms were closer to $1000 it would be an easier pill to swallow. When I reached out to MCB to get a quote for black Friday the spindles and arms were $1580. They look like great pieces but I'm trying to be somewhat budget conscious.
Glad to hear you like the KORE/SPC combo, if the Speedtech spindles and arms were closer to $1000 it would be an easier pill to swallow. When I reached out to MCB to get a quote for black Friday the spindles and arms were $1580. They look like great pieces but I'm trying to be somewhat budget conscious.
Andrew