Broke upper right ball joint.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bryanw1968 · 02-21-2008, 02:51 AM

In half! The rim folded under the truck in the middle of an intersection. Whoops!

I replaced the bottom when I added disc brake drop spindles, springs, shocks and sway bars. I'm figuring that the original upper ball joints became the weakest link. Anyway are there any tricks to drilling out the original rivets or is it pretty straight forward?
Thanks,
Bryan

chevy one · 02-21-2008, 03:01 AM

A 4 inch grinder will make fast of the factory rivets. Just grind off the tops and punch them out through the bottom.

Bus Ted Knuckle · 02-21-2008, 03:24 AM

Angle grinder works best, use a punch to knock them out when the heads are ground off. An air chisel will do it too, but it will be dirty.

matthufham · 02-21-2008, 06:14 AM

dodge durango balljoints are on recall, we should of taken my dad's in before this. i drove it on 3 wheels for a block thinking i had a bad flat tire.

02-21-2008, 02:51 AM	#1
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Broke upper right ball joint.... In half! The rim folded under the truck in the middle of an intersection. Whoops! I replaced the bottom when I added disc brake drop spindles, springs, shocks and sway bars. I'm figuring that the original upper ball joints became the weakest link. Anyway are there any tricks to drilling out the original rivets or is it pretty straight forward? Thanks, Bryan

02-21-2008, 03:01 AM	#2
chevy one Chevy One Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The BeeHive State Posts: 132	Re: Broke upper right ball joint.... A 4 inch grinder will make fast of the factory rivets. Just grind off the tops and punch them out through the bottom. __________________ Chevy One 67 1/2 Two-on-the-Floor 67 Nova 2Dr Sedan 03 Monte Carlo I'M NOT OLD, JUST A CLASSIC!!!

02-21-2008, 03:24 AM	#3
Bus Ted Knuckle Son of a gun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas Posts: 1,636	Re: Broke upper right ball joint.... Angle grinder works best, use a punch to knock them out when the heads are ground off. An air chisel will do it too, but it will be dirty. __________________ Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER

02-21-2008, 06:14 AM	#4
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Broke upper right ball joint.... dodge durango balljoints are on recall, we should of taken my dad's in before this. i drove it on 3 wheels for a block thinking i had a bad flat tire. Attached Images



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