HELP QUICK PLEASE: Upper/Lower Ball Joints Installing Question??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HotRod929 · 04-02-2003, 04:23 PM

Well thats shop that took my truck yesterday when my ball joint busted is charging a ridiculus price for the ball joints and installing them. I found the upper and lower ball joints at a local store for much cheaper and want to put them in myself with my buddies. How hard is it to do myself? I need answers quick so I can tell the shop that im gonna have it towed back home. Thanks

HotRod

70 longbed · 04-02-2003, 04:40 PM

Depending on if the uppers have been replaced before, you will need to grind off the studs that hold them in, and the new ones just bolt in. The bottoms ones can be knocked out (BFH), but have to be pressed in.

HotRod929 · 04-02-2003, 04:42 PM

how do you press the lower ones in. can i take the part they press into off the truck easally and take them to get pressed in? Thanks

HotRod

sam's 72 · 04-02-2003, 04:44 PM

I have never done the upper joints, but looking at it I would say you can do it! If they are the orignal ball joint, I would grind the top of the rivets, you can rent a tool from auto parts store, to remove the joint, looks kind of like a big C clamp, you just press it out. the new one will have bolts where the rivets were at, put it in and bolt it up.
I have done the bottom ones, what I did on the bottom, i jacked the truck up and put it on jack stands, pull the tire off, take a floor jack and put it under the lower A frame, jack it up about 1/2" under the a frame, take off the nut on the ball joint, let the tension of the spring do the work, get a big hammer and hit the lower support area where the ball joint is at, it should pop out, and the a frame rest against the jack. If that dont work use a spreader tool, put it in the area at the joint and hammer it in, this will pop it out for sure.
One thing, be careful when doing this, make sure the jack is under the A frame to support it when it comes loose, if not the spring could fly out and hit you. And it has some force behind it.
Sam

sam's 72 · 04-02-2003, 04:46 PM

press the lower joint in with the C clamp tool that you rent.
Sam

70 longbed · 04-02-2003, 04:47 PM

Not really easy, you have to pull the lower control arm assembly. If I remember, there is a front and rear u-bolt that the whole assembly to the crossmember, 4 bolts each side.

04-02-2003, 04:23 PM	#1
HotRod929 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bondurant, IA but in Worcester, MA for school Posts: 767	HELP QUICK PLEASE: Upper/Lower Ball Joints Installing Question??? Well thats shop that took my truck yesterday when my ball joint busted is charging a ridiculus price for the ball joints and installing them. I found the upper and lower ball joints at a local store for much cheaper and want to put them in myself with my buddies. How hard is it to do myself? I need answers quick so I can tell the shop that im gonna have it towed back home. Thanks HotRod __________________ 1970 Chevy C-20 350 V-8 Turbo 350 w/ shift kit Dana 60 w/ 4.10 gears AND Powr-Loc POSI New Additions: Summit Headers 135amp alternator Proform HEI Edelbrock 1406 600cfm carb Sunpro Tach Powr-Loc POSI Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake MSD 6A Ignition Box AIM: HotRod929 Visit My Site: http://1970chevy.netfirms.com/

04-02-2003, 04:40 PM	#2
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 489	Depending on if the uppers have been replaced before, you will need to grind off the studs that hold them in, and the new ones just bolt in. The bottoms ones can be knocked out (BFH), but have to be pressed in. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

04-02-2003, 04:42 PM	#3
HotRod929 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bondurant, IA but in Worcester, MA for school Posts: 767	how do you press the lower ones in. can i take the part they press into off the truck easally and take them to get pressed in? Thanks HotRod __________________ 1970 Chevy C-20 350 V-8 Turbo 350 w/ shift kit Dana 60 w/ 4.10 gears AND Powr-Loc POSI New Additions: Summit Headers 135amp alternator Proform HEI Edelbrock 1406 600cfm carb Sunpro Tach Powr-Loc POSI Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake MSD 6A Ignition Box AIM: HotRod929 Visit My Site: http://1970chevy.netfirms.com/

04-02-2003, 04:44 PM	#4
sam's 72 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas, USA Posts: 1,005	I have never done the upper joints, but looking at it I would say you can do it! If they are the orignal ball joint, I would grind the top of the rivets, you can rent a tool from auto parts store, to remove the joint, looks kind of like a big C clamp, you just press it out. the new one will have bolts where the rivets were at, put it in and bolt it up. I have done the bottom ones, what I did on the bottom, i jacked the truck up and put it on jack stands, pull the tire off, take a floor jack and put it under the lower A frame, jack it up about 1/2" under the a frame, take off the nut on the ball joint, let the tension of the spring do the work, get a big hammer and hit the lower support area where the ball joint is at, it should pop out, and the a frame rest against the jack. If that dont work use a spreader tool, put it in the area at the joint and hammer it in, this will pop it out for sure. One thing, be careful when doing this, make sure the jack is under the A frame to support it when it comes loose, if not the spring could fly out and hit you. And it has some force behind it. Sam __________________ 72 LWB chevy truck. Pasadena, Texas

04-02-2003, 04:46 PM	#5
sam's 72 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas, USA Posts: 1,005	press the lower joint in with the C clamp tool that you rent. Sam __________________ 72 LWB chevy truck. Pasadena, Texas

04-02-2003, 04:47 PM	#6
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 489	Not really easy, you have to pull the lower control arm assembly. If I remember, there is a front and rear u-bolt that the whole assembly to the crossmember, 4 bolts each side. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.



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