Dumb question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigcdawg99 · 01-24-2005, 04:57 PM

I have a dumb question that I'm sure many know the answer to. What's the easiest/fastest way to remove the ball joints from the upper and lower control arms?

I've never had to do that before.

chickenwing · 01-24-2005, 05:09 PM

Upper ones are riveted if factory. Grind out the rivets and bolt new ones in. Lower ones are pressed in. Need a ball joint press to make it easy. All the tech books outline it pretty well.

There is a dangerous part in removing the coil spring. Use a nice spring compressor for that part. Chain it to the lower control arm to make sure it goes nowhere in the advent of catastrophic failure of your spring compressor.

Have fun with it.

jhow66 · 01-24-2005, 05:10 PM

Have someone else to it. LOL Just kidding.They press in and out. Go to Autozone and rent the tool to remove and install them. You have to leave a deposit but get it back when you return it-no charge! (bottom only)

67ChevyRedneck · 01-24-2005, 05:10 PM

I planned on buying new ball joints, so I just hit the joint itself with a hammer until it came out. They actually popped out pretty easy. I then went to a friends garage who let me use the press. The new ones have to be "pressed" back in. I would never hit a new ball joint. If you have a garage press them in for you, I'm sure they wouldn't charge much to press out the old ones....

67ChevyRedneck · 01-24-2005, 05:12 PM

Man, I type slow, there were no responses when I hit "post reply" ooops, thanks 'wing, I forgot you have to grind the rivvets off the uppers.

jhow66 · 01-24-2005, 05:15 PM

Hey 67C.R.-I type faster then you-1 finger-LOL

bigcdawg99 · 01-24-2005, 05:24 PM

Thanks guys. I'm a "bang it with a hammer" type of guy but I'll try that tool from Autozone. I already have the control arms off the truck and free from the spindles so it shouldn't be too bad.

01-24-2005, 04:57 PM	#1
bigcdawg99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 67	Dumb question I have a dumb question that I'm sure many know the answer to. What's the easiest/fastest way to remove the ball joints from the upper and lower control arms? I've never had to do that before. __________________ 71 GMC Shortbed Fleetside (under construction) "I like guns. You got a gun, you don't have to work out." Chris Rock

01-24-2005, 05:09 PM	#2
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	Upper ones are riveted if factory. Grind out the rivets and bolt new ones in. Lower ones are pressed in. Need a ball joint press to make it easy. All the tech books outline it pretty well. There is a dangerous part in removing the coil spring. Use a nice spring compressor for that part. Chain it to the lower control arm to make sure it goes nowhere in the advent of catastrophic failure of your spring compressor. Have fun with it. __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!!

01-24-2005, 05:10 PM	#3
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Have someone else to it. LOL Just kidding.They press in and out. Go to Autozone and rent the tool to remove and install them. You have to leave a deposit but get it back when you return it-no charge! (bottom only) __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer Last edited by jhow66; 01-24-2005 at 05:13 PM. Reason: forgot something

01-24-2005, 05:10 PM	#4
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	I planned on buying new ball joints, so I just hit the joint itself with a hammer until it came out. They actually popped out pretty easy. I then went to a friends garage who let me use the press. The new ones have to be "pressed" back in. I would never hit a new ball joint. If you have a garage press them in for you, I'm sure they wouldn't charge much to press out the old ones.... __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-24-2005, 05:12 PM	#5
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Man, I type slow, there were no responses when I hit "post reply" ooops, thanks 'wing, I forgot you have to grind the rivvets off the uppers. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-24-2005, 05:15 PM	#6
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Hey 67C.R.-I type faster then you-1 finger-LOL __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

01-24-2005, 05:24 PM	#7
bigcdawg99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 67	Thanks guys. I'm a "bang it with a hammer" type of guy but I'll try that tool from Autozone. I already have the control arms off the truck and free from the spindles so it shouldn't be too bad. __________________ 71 GMC Shortbed Fleetside (under construction) "I like guns. You got a gun, you don't have to work out." Chris Rock

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