Lower Ball Joints

[vms4evr]

Has anyone replaced the lower ball joints themselves. My92 has a bad one on the passenger side so I want to replace both. Difficult? Do I need special tools? If it's no biggie to do can I get the alignment reasonably close by measuring the threads when I install it so I can drive it to the alignment shop?
Thanks, Graham

 

[ErnieN85]

You will need a ball joint press and an air wrench. to remove and to replace them. they are pressed in and not too easy to get out. that said the frst time i had mine changed the people who did it pressed in an oversize joint. (not supposed to exist) and ruined the lower control arm for the next time! when we got the joints this time we had to go through 6 (six) to get the right ones. Moog sent the wrong ones. right numbers on the box just wrong in the box. two were even used! Finally I ordered TRW and got the right ones. moral of the story. have another car to drive and check your parts carefully! as to the alignment if it's not too far. it should do.

 

[vms4evr]

Thanks Ernie. I actually got the ball joints at Carquest. They are TRW parts and the price was good. The Chevy dealer was going to rake me over the coals and would need 3 days to get them.

The guy doing my alignment came highly recommended and has an awesome Hunter setup. He told me he'd charge me an hour labor per side. I don't have a compressor or the press. I'll just bite the bullet on that and pay the $130 in labor so I don't have to deal with it. He's cool about bringing my own parts in.

Thanks, Graham

 

[ErnieN85]

Good idea, Your welcome

 

[69MyWay]

At 130 per side, that is not a bad deal.

I have always done mine myself. However, I have a 50,000 lb press and if that does not work, a big hammer LOL!

That joint has to be lined up perfect as it slips into the control arm, or it can be damaged forever. I made a custom tool out of some large pieces of pipe trimmed down to fit the contour of the control arm and diameter of the ball joint.

What about the uppers? Those are actually easy to replace once you grind/drill the old rivets out.

 

[vms4evr]

Chris,
Yes I can live with the cost of the labor. His boss wanted to order GM parts and then mark them up. So I talked with him and he said I could bring my own parts in for stuff like that if I wanted. He wanted $300 for the pair of lower ball joints. I spent $168 for the pair at Carquest and got TRW parts.
So I give him $130 for install and then $70 for an alignment to my specs (the VBP advanced street settings.
As for the uppers they are good, and tie rods, control arms, etc.. He did a thorough inspection front and back and only complained about the one lower. So I'll do them as a pair per his recommendation. Makes sense to me.
I don't have many of the tools you have. I saw your post on your front-end rebuild. Awesome! You're well beyond my skills and things I would do :BOW
Graham