ball joint on upper a-arm

[cochino12]

I've never replaced a ball joint before while swappings springs in my K5 I noticed the ball joint in the upper a arm looks pretty bad. Are they pretty easy to do? I assume I can just run down to auto zone and rent a press, but do I need to remove the a arm to get it done? or can I just hammer it down with a socket/pipe? Thanks

[Jonboy]

The uppers are riveted in if they are original. The replacements bolt in. If yours have not been replaced, the rivets will likely be the hardest part. The arm doesn't need to be pulled off of the truck, I don't think.

[oldschool18]

you dont need to take the arm off, driill the rivits off and smack it with a hammer if it doesnt fall out. and the new onw will bolt in, the bottom ones are pressed and sometime you have to beat the hell out of them with a hammer but you cant really hurt any thing beating on them Just look at the hole in the control arm when you take them out you might want to take some rough sand paper and sand around the hole to remove any road build up or spurs so the new one sits flat and true.

[old Rusty C10]

i foound it pretty easy to do ball joints with a dremel and a supply of cut off wheels... I took the dremel and sliced into the rivet and then took the slices off with a chisel. I did it this way not to damage or egg out the holes for the bolts for the new ball joint.
it took me about an hour or so a side in my driveway while my kids annoyed me to do this