Replacing Ball Joints
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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
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And all I had to do was go to my friends house and the rivets would have been out in 5 minutes
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DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
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...
Thread Starter
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Certified Car Nut
Joined: Oct 2002
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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. :?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Bonney Lake/Ellensburg, Washington- WCBF '04, '05, '06, '07 Survivor-
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!
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
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. :?
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Metro Detroit
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.
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 566
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From: Minneapolis, MN
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.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
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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.
