Ball Joint Replacement

Just ordered a set of Moogs from Summit. The lowers still seem good, but the uppers look like they never got greased. Thought I would just replace all 4 while they were out.

It looks like they riveted the top ball joints in at the factory, and I suppose you just drill out the rivets, but I can't see how the bottom ones were mounted. Is that a threaded ring holding them on? I don't see any flats to get on it with a wrench and I hate to start messing around with channel locks.

Can someone tell me how to get those off please? Thanks!

Dave

Dave, I think they press out. You can buy or borrow a ball joint remover/installer from some auto parts stores, or some people take em to a shop to press out the old and press in the new.

P.S. The easiest way to remove the rivets is with an air chisel ;)

I had a shop press mine in and out about 15 years ago. Check ball joint seal when done. I had pin holes all over mine, and made them replace them.
Tim

Thanks ... I'll check with some shops and see what they say.

Love this site!!:D

Dave

On the same general topic, I would also like to replace the rubber bumpers on the upper and lower control arms. The originals are beginning to crack a little, and now is the time!!

Unfortunately, I cannot find any bumpers that are not part of a kit...and I already have most of what I want to change out. Does anyone know where I might find these bumpers?

Thanks again,

Dave

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9%2E9154%5FLower&cat=653
You can probably buy these locally also.

Bluesman....I just did all 4 of mine and I went to Advance Auto and "purchased" the complete ball joint press kit. It worked great once you determine which tube works for your ball joints. I took out both lowers and installed new ones in about an hour and a half. Once you are done with the kit, just take it back to the store for a complete refund. Sounds kind of strange, but this is what they told me to do. Hey.....if its free its ME. Good luck.

If you are going to the trouble to replace all the ball joints, why not take the control arms off and do the bushings as well. I did this recently on the 70 project car. Took the whole greasy mess to the local NAPA guy..he hot tanked them and installed the new bushings and lower b/joints..uppers looked good and the original rivets look cool. the guy even blasted them for me and then I painted them and reinstalled the whole deal. He also cleaned and blasted the disc brake backing plates, steering knuckles and spindles. I repainted the parts and it made for nice job. It is easy to do all these things when the front end is all apart...you should obviously check other steering components at the same time.


wilma:shh:

I ended up taking Wilma's route...I took them don to a local mec I know. I'll get them back this evening. I tried using a rattle-gun, which worked pretty well on the upper control arm bushings, but the lower control arm bushings and the lower ball joints were solid. I also was afraid I would bend the control arms if I kept banging on them. He will press everything out and dip the arms, then after I paint them (Eastwood's chassis black), press in the new stuff. I tried the air chisel on the upper ball joint rivets but that wasn't working too well so I torched them out ... got them bright red with a small tip on the torch and punched them out with a drift. That worked real well ... especially as someone who knew what they were doing was holding the torch instead of me!! :D

I'm telling you what, people who work on old cars need a very different skill set from those who work in dealerships. Welding body panels that pop like firecrackers .... dealing with rust ... digging through an inch of old hard grease to find a nut ... you gotta love it!!

I'll post a pic or 2 when they are done.......

Dave