Ya was a bad day late yesterday....Lower control arm ball joint broke (SNAP)
bang, crunch while in drive off a stop sign.
Tire bent inwards as control arm separated from ball joint with tire now stuck into fender well. On top of that pull was bad enough to rip the CV axle out of transmission, sending Dex6 into roadway.
In photo below I could not shoot any more as my camera battery died (like normal)...anyways could not use wheel lift as the tire would probably ripped fender off, and so we had to use the special hook bars and lift in from the front cradle position. Going to have to check alignment on cradle now as well.
Had it towed to buds shop and just came from there...new trans seal, lower ball joint, just a whole mess of things going on..Luckily no damages to splines at transmission or on cv axle, circlip needed at axle end and who know what else at this point...will be on lift overnight, and get back in there again tomorrow, to see if I can get this PA road worthy again.
Obviously IMHO and alignment will be necessary again (just had one done a short while ago)..
what fun ...Not.

It is hard to want to check your ball joints with a pry bar when your lower control arms are aluminum..

That sucks Art! Hopefully it'll be back on the road asap

That sucks art. Sorry to hear that. If you want a replacement I have one in my driveway! Shipping would be horrendous though. Lol. Keep us updated!

Sorry about the bad luck Art.

I dunno. Something about heavy cars and aluminum.

Don't worry Art, you will be back on the road soon.

I have never heard of a bj ever going on one of these......hope you can get pictures of where the break was....

Ok real quick update I got to get back with 5 hours sleep after work now, to hit it hard and inspect /remove /strut /bearing assembly. Then attempt to get sheet aligned and in order, Sorry gus there is no camera it is simply dead and I need a new battery, one other thing to go wrong this week..
F Me everything is broken.....while trying to work for a living...
BJ snapped at last thread, (overtightened) forcing crack/snap unknown..it is in the garbage now long ago..will post back later and soon as I can breath again, and get this car working...what a week...it aint over yet either....
Thanks for your support greatly appreciated...!!!! to be cont'd...

Art,

Sorry this happened. Like Gus, never seen a ball joint go on your platform of GM vehicles. You might consider replacing the control arm with new ball joint already installed in the control arm. Fairly easy to do, and will give you new bushings, which are likely aged.

Art,

BTW- most of us have gone through bad spells with our platform of GM vehicles. almost sent my Bonny to the junk yard 2 1/2 years ago. Ended up spending another 30 hours on it, and decided to keep it. I've since put 30k miles on it, driving great and super dependable.

Thanks Guns-Michael...I wish the aluminum control arms were so simple to get.
They are specific to the 97 PA and the bushings are simply not available nor aftermarket control arms.
Only dealer arms are available and at a shocking price each unfortunately.
The next step if correct bushings are not available is to machine the control arm, & press in another bushing.
Rad all about it..I wish I had a 99 PA !!
https://www.gmforum.com/buick-172/97...ilable-304901/