Replacing Ball Joints
06-20-2006, 03:12 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
You know Pete... after reading the comments from the last poster.... I struggled for hours with the Rivets... Left a gash in my knee.... Broke a couple of bits, ran to the parts store still bleeding... Killed off a Grinding disc....
And all I had to do was go to my friends house and the rivets would have been out in 5 minutes
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
And all I had to do was go to my friends house and the rivets would have been out in 5 minutes
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
06-20-2006, 03:38 PM
#12
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Sorry Pete...I don't have a torch..and on my level of stuff...
Like struts..
I'd send this to Mechanic Dan... I don't replace ball joints.
And you've seen/used the grinder I have...
Like struts..
I'd send this to Mechanic Dan... I don't replace ball joints.
And you've seen/used the grinder I have...
06-20-2006, 03:43 PM
#13
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As I'm not looking at the car right now, what'* involved with taking the control arm off too? It would probably be easier even DRILLING the rivets out if I could get the control arm off.
I may have a torch. :?
I may have a torch. :?
06-20-2006, 03:47 PM
#14
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bonney Lake/Ellensburg, Washington- WCBF '04, '05, '06, '07 Survivor-
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I HATE replacing ball joints! I haven't done the bonnie'*, but I've done 1 on the explorer, and it is a pain in the ***! 
Good luck!
Good luck!
06-20-2006, 04:01 PM
#15
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Originally Posted by bonnie94ssei
As I'm not looking at the car right now, what'* involved with taking the control arm off too? It would probably be easier even DRILLING the rivets out if I could get the control arm off.
I may have a torch. :?
I may have a torch. :?
06-20-2006, 06:39 PM
#16
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Metro Detroit
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As I'm not looking at the car right now, what'* involved with taking the control arm off too? It would probably be easier even DRILLING the rivets out if I could get the control arm off.
I may have a torch.
I may have a torch.
06-20-2006, 08:07 PM
#17
PopaDopaDo
True Car Nut
I tried the drill method, was a royal PITA, so I gave up. I was at my my muffler shop, Cole Muffler, and the chiselled it off for $20 for me. Money Well Spent.
06-20-2006, 10:09 PM
#19
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
because:
a) we don't have upper control arms. only lower control arms.
b) it'* cheaper to replace just the ball joint.
c) there'* a good chance the lower control arm doesn't come with the ball joint attached.
a) we don't have upper control arms. only lower control arms.
b) it'* cheaper to replace just the ball joint.
c) there'* a good chance the lower control arm doesn't come with the ball joint attached.
06-21-2006, 10:00 AM
#20
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't have a torch myself, but my brother-in-law does (or should...he'* a mechanic). Thanks for all the input. I'll pass on the drilling and remove the CA and heat those suckers up.
I'm assuming the heat won't damage the CAs?
The way I look at it, I know a shop would rape me on the price/labor. I want to do these myself to learn, and to save money. If I didn't have access to a torch I'd even get new control arms if they were cheap just so I could bolt the new BJs to the new CAs and be good to go. I'd probably still spend less money that way than if I let a shop do the whole project.
I'm assuming the heat won't damage the CAs?
The way I look at it, I know a shop would rape me on the price/labor. I want to do these myself to learn, and to save money. If I didn't have access to a torch I'd even get new control arms if they were cheap just so I could bolt the new BJs to the new CAs and be good to go. I'd probably still spend less money that way than if I let a shop do the whole project.