Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: Steering and Suspension Guides
- Camaro and Firebird: How to Replace Ball Joints
Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs
Browse all: Steering and Suspension Guides
Ball Joint Replacement "How To"?!?
#1
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Howell, Mi.
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ball Joint Replacement "How To"?!?
I need to replace my upper and lower ball joints and have never done it myself. Are there any "how to" articles with pictures out there that could help me out?
Thanks!!
James
Thanks!!
James
#2
Hello
What you do with the top Ball Joint is drill the rivets and replace them with bolts and screws. And then the lower Ball Joints will have to be pressed out and pressed back in. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Thanks
Brad
What you do with the top Ball Joint is drill the rivets and replace them with bolts and screws. And then the lower Ball Joints will have to be pressed out and pressed back in. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Thanks
Brad
#4
Staging Lane
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if i were you i would remove my lower a arm and bring it in to a shop with a hydraulic press and have them press out/in the new ball joint rather than attemp to yourself. as for the uppers. the uppers you should be able to do yourself. i know spohn makes nice upper ball joints
#5
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Howell, Mi.
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How long does it typically take to do one lower ball joint? One upper ball joint?
The reason I ask, is because I am tackling this project this weekend, but I need my car on the road by Monday...
The reason I ask, is because I am tackling this project this weekend, but I need my car on the road by Monday...
#6
TECH Addict
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Someone with experience would have all 4 done in 1/2 day.
#7
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
Uppers are super easy. Remove spindle from the joint, chop off the rivets holding it on, bolt new ball joint in place, attach spindle, grease. Done.
Lowers are pressed, as mentioned, so those would suck to try and do yourself. I know someone had frozen his lower joint and heated the lower A arm real hot with a torch, and the joint basically just dropped in with some minor tapping into place. Not sure if I'd attempt such a thing on a tight schedule however.
Lowers are pressed, as mentioned, so those would suck to try and do yourself. I know someone had frozen his lower joint and heated the lower A arm real hot with a torch, and the joint basically just dropped in with some minor tapping into place. Not sure if I'd attempt such a thing on a tight schedule however.
Trending Topics
#8
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Howell, Mi.
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just took off everything in the way of getting to the ball joint. How do you tell if a ball joint is bad? It seems to move very freely, and the rubber looks to be in great shape...
The reason I am doing this is to get rid of a front end creak. When my tires are on the ground, and I turn them, it sounds like an old door creaking. I took it to a local repair shop, the guy looked under the car while I turned the wheel, and he immediately said ball joints...Could he be wrong?
The reason I am doing this is to get rid of a front end creak. When my tires are on the ground, and I turn them, it sounds like an old door creaking. I took it to a local repair shop, the guy looked under the car while I turned the wheel, and he immediately said ball joints...Could he be wrong?
#9
On The Tree
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ferndale, Mi
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just took off everything in the way of getting to the ball joint. How do you tell if a ball joint is bad? It seems to move very freely, and the rubber looks to be in great shape...
The reason I am doing this is to get rid of a front end creak. When my tires are on the ground, and I turn them, it sounds like an old door creaking. I took it to a local repair shop, the guy looked under the car while I turned the wheel, and he immediately said ball joints...Could he be wrong?
The reason I am doing this is to get rid of a front end creak. When my tires are on the ground, and I turn them, it sounds like an old door creaking. I took it to a local repair shop, the guy looked under the car while I turned the wheel, and he immediately said ball joints...Could he be wrong?
If yours move very freely, they're definitely worn out. The rubber is just a protective cover to keep the grease in them.
#11
Teching In
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vernon, NJ
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought a simple ball joint press off of Amazon a few years ago and do my own. I think it cost around 75 bucks and also does a million other things as you can imagine. I plan on doing universal joints with it tomorrow. I think you can rent this tool from your local parts house for the day, and it shouldnt take you that long to do.
#12
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pocatello Idaho
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uppers are super easy. Remove spindle from the joint, chop off the rivets holding it on, bolt new ball joint in place, attach spindle, grease. Done.
Lowers are pressed, as mentioned, so those would suck to try and do yourself. I know someone had frozen his lower joint and heated the lower A arm real hot with a torch, and the joint basically just dropped in with some minor tapping into place. Not sure if I'd attempt such a thing on a tight schedule however.
Lowers are pressed, as mentioned, so those would suck to try and do yourself. I know someone had frozen his lower joint and heated the lower A arm real hot with a torch, and the joint basically just dropped in with some minor tapping into place. Not sure if I'd attempt such a thing on a tight schedule however.
#13
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Howell, Mi.
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I got the a arm off of the upper ball joint, but I can't get the damn thing off of the lower ball joint... Is there a trick to it? I tried spraying tons of penetrating oil in there to no avail...Any ideas? Suggestions?
#14
On The Tree
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ferndale, Mi
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you mean you can't get the lower ball joint out of the lower a-arm? Just remove the a-arm and take it to a shop and have them remove it with a press if you don't want to buy the press tool from your local car parts store.