Steering Knuckle Swap

[christopher776]

Hi everybody. I got a 76 GMC High Sierra C15 (two wheel). I got some new brake parts, hubs, and bearings to slap on it. Being the dummy I am the bearings on one side got over tightened and they seized. Now I have to replace the spindle.

 I am just wondering. Is it possible to change the knuckle by jacking up the truck onto stands, then placing the jack under the lower A Arm to hold the coil in place and take pressure off the ball joints. So I can pop the upper ball joint, swing the knuckle out and remove the lower joint, without having the coil come out of place, or using a spring compressor I do not have at the moment.

Thanks for any help guys.

[christopher776]

The jack worked fine to hold the A frame. When I removed the lower ball joint, it just fell from the control arm once the knuckle was removed. When I bought a new ball joint, it also fit loosely like the old one. This is of concern to me. Usually ball joints are pressed, riveted, bolted into the arm, held in with a clip or something. I put everything together anyways and once it got it tightened up it seems OK for tonight...

The wheel alignment is a little off now, but maybe when I get an alignment I can mention the ball joint and see what they think.

Thanks everybody. Awesome site!