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Author Topic: pressing in lower ball joints  (Read 15140 times)

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #15 on: May 06, 2010, 03:18:20 pm »
If you want to be safe first and foremost then do it right. If the ball joint is floating around in the control arm you need to replace the control arm.

An integral ball joint does require the control arm be replaced. Still there are no tack welded ball joints that I've ever seen or heard of.
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #16 on: May 06, 2010, 03:21:31 pm »
Save I can see but if its not stock doesn't make it safer. I would try to figure out what's wrong with the ball joint like it is
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Offline chronos

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #17 on: May 06, 2010, 03:53:08 pm »
Well , gonna look into my options on control arm.
Going to try a different BJ first off since they are lifetime
and go from there

There are factory press-in BJ's that are also tack welded from
the factory , been googling this all day.

Not looking forward to this as I was close to the end...lol
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #18 on: May 06, 2010, 11:34:43 pm »
Quote
There are factory press-in BJ's that are also tack welded from
the factory , been googling this all day.

Again, never seen it so please give us a specific example of factory tack welded in ball joints.

Just buy a used control am if yours is toast.
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Offline chronos

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #19 on: May 07, 2010, 08:52:05 am »
Got my new(used) control arm. $50 from wreckers
Now to paint and get the old one out and new one in

Is there anything more to it than bolting it in?
I have new u-bolts from dealer , anything to watch out for?

If you want to google "tack welded" "lower ball joint"
there is lots of reading there
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #20 on: May 07, 2010, 02:13:54 pm »
Be careful, give yourself enough room to fit a floor jack under there and be able to get the spring out.
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Offline chronos

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #21 on: May 07, 2010, 02:27:50 pm »
The spring is loose and spindle are already off.
Is it just a matter of getting the u-bolts off and putting on the new control arm?
Is the arm just centered and bolted on?
Thanks for all the help !

Figured I've come this far got to do it right , never taken off a control arm
so wanted to avoid that but you guys steered me right
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Offline chronos

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #22 on: May 07, 2010, 11:07:57 pm »
Got the old arm off , really easy.Should have taken them both off
from the start !
Another coat of chassis saver on the new arm and its ready to
go in.
I see now that the control arm shaft has two holes in it to
line it up,,,,
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #23 on: May 08, 2010, 06:08:28 pm »
New bushings are a good idea while it's out. I painted mine with rustoleum hammered finish and they look cool
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Offline eventhorizon66

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Re: pressing in lower ball joints
« Reply #24 on: May 09, 2010, 12:22:14 pm »
I guess it's a little late to mention this, but AC Delco #45D2022 ball joint is listed as an "oversize" ball joint.  I would think that this would do the trick, if the ball joint hole is still round but just a tad too big.
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