Ball joint questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Daytona#3895 · 11-08-2011, 09:31 PM

I was just going to do a front u-joint replacement on my 87 V-10. I removed everything and took the axle out. I noticed the knuckle had a lot of play and determined the ball joints need replacing. I could use a little clarification on the procedure. After removing the knuckle (its the driver side), I have to press the lower out first? Now when I go to press out the upper, do I have to remove the sleeve in order to remove the ball joint? Is there any certain place it must be set when installing the sleeve? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. A small project just turned into a big one.....

Daytona#3895 · 11-08-2011, 10:49 PM

Another question. Instead of removing the 3 nuts on the steering arm, would it be better to remove the one nut on the drag link?

Zane M · 11-09-2011, 12:24 AM

Just did this on a '78.
Lower ball joint needs to come out first in order to be able to position the press to get the upper out.

I did not need to remove the sleeve to get the upper joint out.

Removing the nut and freeing the drag link is preferred(If you remove the bolts, you are supposed to replace them with new ones). However, one thing I ran into was the arm is so close to the ball joint hole, the cup for the press ends up interfering with the process of pressing out the joint. I couldn't get the arm separated from the knuckle, so I ended up having to modify my cup to get the job done.

11-08-2011, 09:31 PM	#1
Daytona#3895 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 21	Ball joint questions I was just going to do a front u-joint replacement on my 87 V-10. I removed everything and took the axle out. I noticed the knuckle had a lot of play and determined the ball joints need replacing. I could use a little clarification on the procedure. After removing the knuckle (its the driver side), I have to press the lower out first? Now when I go to press out the upper, do I have to remove the sleeve in order to remove the ball joint? Is there any certain place it must be set when installing the sleeve? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. A small project just turned into a big one..... __________________ Current vehicles 1987 Chevy V-10 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic 1968 Chevy Camaro SS

11-08-2011, 10:49 PM	#2
Daytona#3895 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 21	Re: Ball joint questions Another question. Instead of removing the 3 nuts on the steering arm, would it be better to remove the one nut on the drag link? __________________ Current vehicles 1987 Chevy V-10 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic 1968 Chevy Camaro SS

11-09-2011, 12:24 AM	#3
Zane M Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 706	Re: Ball joint questions Just did this on a '78. Lower ball joint needs to come out first in order to be able to position the press to get the upper out. I did not need to remove the sleeve to get the upper joint out. Removing the nut and freeing the drag link is preferred(If you remove the bolts, you are supposed to replace them with new ones). However, one thing I ran into was the arm is so close to the ball joint hole, the cup for the press ends up interfering with the process of pressing out the joint. I couldn't get the arm separated from the knuckle, so I ended up having to modify my cup to get the job done.



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