Changing upper and lower ball joints

[ReggieD]

I own a 92 LT1 vettes which need upper and lower ball joints. I want to tackle this job myself. Are there any articles or threads I need to read before I begin this job. I ask this question eariler today but I place it in the wrong location "C4 Mods".
Once I get the front end disassembled I am going to change the shocks too.

Do anyone have any pointer to make my job easier?

 

[paintdaddy]

Personally I would take off the arms and order new bushings and ball joints and take them to a mech shop and have them press out the old ones and press in new ones.While you got them out polish them up.

 

[kmcewan]

I decided to buy a 2nd set of upper and lower A-Arms from an Ebay vendor. Bought all new bushings and ball joints from PST and pressed the new pieces on myself. Took the assembled parts to my mechanic and let him remove the old A-Arms and reassemble the new ones. I saved a bundle on the labor.

Ken

 

[Dusty vett]

Reggie

I just did mine on my 87 last weekend, the lowers are not bad you need a good ball joint press, put a board accros the top of the wheel well and I used some rope to hold the upper a frame and spindle out of the way while I presed the lowers out & in. then reasemble the lower ball joint. The upper I drilled the head off two rivets the used a smaller drill bit to make a hole inside the rivet 1/4 deep, then use a punch and hammer to drive the rivet out. I found on mine a pitman arm puller fits on the ball joint and can be used to seperate them 10 to 12 dollars at the local parts store. Then I used a board to support the a frame notch one end and it will rest on the frame other end on my stool. Drill the rivets and drive the last 2 out. install new upper ball joint and your done. Just go slow on the first one and you will have no problems.


dusty

 

[Midnite 88]

I got the complete front and rear rebuild kits for my '88 from PST. Did the front in a week-end. Did the rear nearly a year later. The complete rebuild kits contain upper and lower ball-joints, outer tie-rod ends, and urethane bushings.

I think I paid ~400.00 for all of it. I bought a 1ton bench press to do the bushings. This is not an easy job but, can be done in your garage if you are a little creative.

Mike.

 

[jsinga]

You can rent for free (you just leave a credit card deposit) a balljoint press for the lowers at AutoZone. Support the control arm with a floor jack. If you don't have a floor jack get one, decent cheap ones are @ $60.

JS