Ball joints
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
I don't think theres a guide.
What I did was jack and support the car by the subframe (far enough away from control arm to ensure you had room for major tools and a good fight. High enough so you can drill from below, the rest of the suspension will be in the way from the top.
Remove the cotter pin and balljoint nut. Then split the balljoint from the knuckle if you are using the pry down and hit method (oohhh you know this is detailed in the axle swap thread) if you have a pickle fork you can split the joint later.
Use the new bolts (in the new joints) as a guide for the ending size drill bit you need. Punch the center of the rivet and start drilling. Once the rivets are gone, pull it out and bolt the new one in place. Reassemble the joint to knuckle, nut and cotter pin.
What most find when they grind is that pulling the heads off the rivets doesn't help. GM put them in hot enough that the entire rivet needs to be removed before they'll come off the control arm. Drilling is the quickest/best way that I've come across.
What I did was jack and support the car by the subframe (far enough away from control arm to ensure you had room for major tools and a good fight. High enough so you can drill from below, the rest of the suspension will be in the way from the top.
Remove the cotter pin and balljoint nut. Then split the balljoint from the knuckle if you are using the pry down and hit method (oohhh you know this is detailed in the axle swap thread) if you have a pickle fork you can split the joint later.
Use the new bolts (in the new joints) as a guide for the ending size drill bit you need. Punch the center of the rivet and start drilling. Once the rivets are gone, pull it out and bolt the new one in place. Reassemble the joint to knuckle, nut and cotter pin.
What most find when they grind is that pulling the heads off the rivets doesn't help. GM put them in hot enough that the entire rivet needs to be removed before they'll come off the control arm. Drilling is the quickest/best way that I've come across.
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 90
Likes: 2
I did my front passenger side about a year ago. There is a write up with pictures somewhere in the Forum, do yourself a favor and get a small corded drill and some SHARP drill bits. I removed the shock assembly and moved the steering knuckle out of the way to access the rivets easier. No BS it took me about four hours from start to finish to do the job.
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Just pull the control arms. Bushings probably need replacing anyway. Have you even checked if it'* rivets? Being a 95, those Balljoints should have been replaced a few times already.
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
here, this aint a bonne, but its really similar, and lots of pics!
http://www.facebook.com/BulldogWorldMessageBoard
http://www.facebook.com/BulldogWorldMessageBoard
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,124
Likes: 8
From: Portage mi
Here BO...Drill out these three rivets and replace them with the supplied nuts/bolts of your new ball joint
Here is where its at...the lower...the upper is in the same place just on the top...
Here is where its at...the lower...the upper is in the same place just on the top...
