How do you remove lower ball joints... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

boraxman · 09-13-2003, 09:09 PM

Off a 70 1/2 ton?

Hotrod70C10 · 09-13-2003, 09:29 PM

If you haven't taken the spindle out from the lower ball joint. You will need to pull the cotter pin, then back the retaining nut off a little. Don't take it all the way off! Then whack away with a good sized hammer on the lower a-arm. They will eventually come out. Then you will need a balljoint press to remove or install a new ball joint into the lower a arm. You can rent one at an auto parts store. It looks like a big C clamp. For the uppers you will have to break some rivets loose if they are original upper ball joints. If not they just unbolt and the new ones bolt in. I hope this helps. Billy

boraxman · 09-13-2003, 10:50 PM

Cool , so press out and press in. Ya It was hell getting the spindles off. Youre right about beating em till they come apart. one more thing, I damaged the threads badly on the old lower, is this gonna make it harder?

Hotrod70C10 · 09-14-2003, 12:32 AM

nope, not at all. The tool itself goes down to the base of the ball joint. It has little cup things that press the ball joint out. The tool will look like the one in the picture. It's easy to use you just turn the end of the c- clamp with an impact gun or a 3/4" wrench.

Hotrod70C10 · 09-14-2003, 12:37 AM

Also if you ever get stuck and can't get the spindle out of the upper balljoints you can take a small jack and set it inside the spindle, then raise the jack to the upper control arm. raise the jack untill its pressure between the bottom of the spindle and the upper control arm free the spindle from the upper ball joint. Be sure to put something soft down so you don't drop the spindle onto the ground b/c it just pops off and goes straight for your toes. I know it sounds stupid but I didn't have a tierod fork or an air hammer to get mine out and I didn't want to beat the crap out of the spindle itself. And that is my usefull cheapo tip of the day. lol

09-13-2003, 09:09 PM	#1
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	How do you remove lower ball joints... Off a 70 1/2 ton? __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

09-13-2003, 09:29 PM	#2
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	If you haven't taken the spindle out from the lower ball joint. You will need to pull the cotter pin, then back the retaining nut off a little. Don't take it all the way off! Then whack away with a good sized hammer on the lower a-arm. They will eventually come out. Then you will need a balljoint press to remove or install a new ball joint into the lower a arm. You can rent one at an auto parts store. It looks like a big C clamp. For the uppers you will have to break some rivets loose if they are original upper ball joints. If not they just unbolt and the new ones bolt in. I hope this helps. Billy __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

09-13-2003, 10:50 PM	#3
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Cool , so press out and press in. Ya It was hell getting the spindles off. Youre right about beating em till they come apart. one more thing, I damaged the threads badly on the old lower, is this gonna make it harder? __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351 Last edited by boraxman; 09-13-2003 at 10:53 PM.

09-14-2003, 12:32 AM	#4
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	nope, not at all. The tool itself goes down to the base of the ball joint. It has little cup things that press the ball joint out. The tool will look like the one in the picture. It's easy to use you just turn the end of the c- clamp with an impact gun or a 3/4" wrench. __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

09-14-2003, 12:37 AM	#5
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	Also if you ever get stuck and can't get the spindle out of the upper balljoints you can take a small jack and set it inside the spindle, then raise the jack to the upper control arm. raise the jack untill its pressure between the bottom of the spindle and the upper control arm free the spindle from the upper ball joint. Be sure to put something soft down so you don't drop the spindle onto the ground b/c it just pops off and goes straight for your toes. I know it sounds stupid but I didn't have a tierod fork or an air hammer to get mine out and I didn't want to beat the crap out of the spindle itself. And that is my usefull cheapo tip of the day. lol __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

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