Lower Ball Joints - Checking here first

Grandavi · 09-19-2008, 10:38 PM

I'm going to replace my lower ball joints, but before I pull it all apart I wanted to check here to see if I should prepare for anything. It looks fairly straight forward. Dont have a hoist, so I will be doing it with the car on stands (on my back)

supradrift · 09-19-2008, 10:43 PM

if i remember correctly it was a pain in the balls but i did mine when i first got my car so i dont really recall i also have lifts available to me that helps anyway good luck

Busted Knuckles · 09-20-2008, 01:23 AM

I was just replacing the brake pads on my '88, and realized my right side suspension was loose. On further inspection, I found the nut that holds the ball joint to the steering knuckle was loose, almost half off the stud! A real pain in the a$$ to tighten back up. The ball joint and stud kept moving with the nut. I had to rig a C-clamp to clamp the steering knuckle to the ball joint with enough force to keep the stud from turning. It worked. As soon as I had it tight enough, I noticed the stud had a hole for a cotter pin, but the nut was a nylon lock nut, not a castle nut. I managed to run a 19-gauge wire through the partially exposed hole, and twisted it off. I'm going to use Grandavi's link to order a replacement ball joint.

But, it seems easy enough to do with jackstands. The strut cartridge will prevent the lower control arm from dropping when the ball joint is removed. The trick will be to remove the nut on the ball joint. I used a 22mm box end wrench, and managed to use another large wrench on the open end section to double my torque. This usually works for me. It is too tight to get an impact wrench in there. Hopefully, the stud will be wedged in tight enough to prevent it from moving with the wrench. Once that is loose, the rest should be gravy.

Grandavi · 09-20-2008, 04:04 AM

Yeah, I bought a compressor and impact wrench when I got tired of using lug nut wrenches for tires, so I have all the tools. As I get older.. I like the easy way.. lol. I may just take this to my father-in-law's place as he has a 3 car heated garage and tons and tons and tons of tools, plus it wouldn't hurt to have someone else around if it gets a bit rough. He also has everthing so that if I need clamps or to jerry-rig something up for trouble, it will be easier. I think this will be a good photo-project : )

Oh yeah.. funny thing is.. the cheapest lower ball joint is the link... I can't find it cheaper up in Canada.. and that's with cross-border shipping too!

09-19-2008, 10:38 PM	#1
Grandavi walbro fp Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 410	Lower Ball Joints - Checking here first I'm going to replace my lower ball joints, but before I pull it all apart I wanted to check here to see if I should prepare for anything. It looks fairly straight forward. Dont have a hoist, so I will be doing it with the car on stands (on my back)

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09-19-2008, 10:43 PM	#2
supradrift 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: connecticut Posts: 92	if i remember correctly it was a pain in the balls but i did mine when i first got my car so i dont really recall i also have lifts available to me that helps anyway good luck

09-20-2008, 01:23 AM	#3
Busted Knuckles 12psi boost Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 300	I was just replacing the brake pads on my '88, and realized my right side suspension was loose. On further inspection, I found the nut that holds the ball joint to the steering knuckle was loose, almost half off the stud! A real pain in the a$$ to tighten back up. The ball joint and stud kept moving with the nut. I had to rig a C-clamp to clamp the steering knuckle to the ball joint with enough force to keep the stud from turning. It worked. As soon as I had it tight enough, I noticed the stud had a hole for a cotter pin, but the nut was a nylon lock nut, not a castle nut. I managed to run a 19-gauge wire through the partially exposed hole, and twisted it off. I'm going to use Grandavi's link to order a replacement ball joint. But, it seems easy enough to do with jackstands. The strut cartridge will prevent the lower control arm from dropping when the ball joint is removed. The trick will be to remove the nut on the ball joint. I used a 22mm box end wrench, and managed to use another large wrench on the open end section to double my torque. This usually works for me. It is too tight to get an impact wrench in there. Hopefully, the stud will be wedged in tight enough to prevent it from moving with the wrench. Once that is loose, the rest should be gravy.

09-20-2008, 04:04 AM	#4
Grandavi walbro fp Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 410	Yeah, I bought a compressor and impact wrench when I got tired of using lug nut wrenches for tires, so I have all the tools. As I get older.. I like the easy way.. lol. I may just take this to my father-in-law's place as he has a 3 car heated garage and tons and tons and tons of tools, plus it wouldn't hurt to have someone else around if it gets a bit rough. He also has everthing so that if I need clamps or to jerry-rig something up for trouble, it will be easier. I think this will be a good photo-project : ) Oh yeah.. funny thing is.. the cheapest lower ball joint is the link... I can't find it cheaper up in Canada.. and that's with cross-border shipping too!