Changing Lower Ball Joints

[Stanford]

I ordered new coil springs for the front and the rear. When I go to change out the front coils Im also going to replace the lower ball joints. Im wondering if I have to press them out and if I can do that with out taking the spindle off. I was also wanting to know if they make a replacement that is not a press in type. Any information that you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Aaron Stanford

[walker]

As best I recall lower ball joint is press in/out only. Yes you have to remove the spindle. Best way is to remove the whole a-arm and take it to a machine shop and have them swap the ball joints for you. Don't try it with a hammer, or a vice.

[cdowns]

i have a small balljoint press that was inexpensive from jcwhitney and you just press the old ones out and the new ones in you might be able to rent one thats similar from your local autoparts store i've never found it necessacery to remove the a-arms when replacing balljoints i'd also suggest changing the uppers while you have the suspension apart

[HuggerCST]

The way I do it- Pop the lower ball joint loose, prop the spindle up on a jackstand to keep it out of the way, and use what I call a ball joint press, which looks like a big C-clamp with a hole in one end. You can probably rent one at an auto parts store like autozone. They are press in joints, and no, I dont think they make a replacement that isn't press in.

[MACKL]

There is no other way to remove or install lower ball joints except to press them. If you are mechanical enough, go to Autozone and use their loan a tool program. They have a loaner ball joint press. It works like a dream. I installed mine 3 weeks ago in about 30 minutes. The machine shop wanted $35.00 per side just to press in the ball joints.
Be very careful with the coil springs. A floor jack will work but for safety, also chain the coil spring to the lower control arm in case something goes wrong and it trys to go flying. Good luck with the project...

[68 Suburban]

Are the uppers pressed in to, or they held on by rivits/bolts?

[HuggerCST]

The factory used rivits for the uppers, but the replacements will come with bolts.

[Stanford]

Thanks for all the advice guys I appreciate it. Any guesses on how long I should book for this project.

Thanks again,

Aaron Stanford

[chickenwing]

Originally Posted by Stanford

Thanks for all the advice guys I appreciate it. Any guesses on how long I should book for this project.

Thanks again,

Aaron Stanford

That depends on your skill. The formula I use for labor estimating is:
(first guess x 2) x #of wrong parts

[Fred T]

Years back I swapped one of the press in lowers on the truck. I used a portable press called a forklift!

If you need someone to press them for you, talk to your local mechanic. Some of them have a press, and shouldn't charge too much. Your Napa store might have a press in the back room or one of the c-clamp style press tools you can use on the vehicle.

The lower control arm doesn't take a lot to remove. Use a pickle fork to pop the ball joint loose. Chain the spring, unbolt the shock and disconnect the u-bolts holding the control arm to the cross-member, then take the nut off the ball joint.

How's life in St John these days? Is the hub of Saturday night activity still the highway junction where you sit and watch the bunker light flash?

[flip66]

I know how we all feel about auto zone but they will rent a ball joint press.

[68 Suburban]

Didn't I read somewhere a while back, that you should upgrade those U bolts to a size bigger?