Ball joints

[camaro_speedemon]

How hard is it to replace the ball joints? Mine is making a popping sound whenever I make a hard turn.

Also, could that be the reason I'm getting ****ty gas milage?

[camarofan]

Depends on if you are talking upper or lowers.

Uppers take no time at all, I'll have to check for sure when I get back to work, but I think they are riveted in. Chisel off the rivets and new ones will come with new bolts and they bolt right on. If not, it will complete upper contraol arm, which again are not to challenging to replace.

Lowers on the other hand are a bit of a PITA. Depending on your resources available and know-how, I'd plan on atleast half a day, probably a full day. I believe it calls for 2- 2 1/2 hours per side on the lowers, this is if you have all the tools and encounter no problems.

If and when you do them/have them done, request moog replacements. They are a little pricier but the quality is superior to autozone and like places. And don't forget to have the alignment checked once they are in.

[hockeyman]

How much $$ are we talking for 2 upper and 2 lower ball joints?
I'd to go with a better quality ball joints than stock.

-Marc

[MississippiMaro]

Just did mine this past weekend... took 4 hours total, but i did tie rod ends too, so about 2.5 hours total for the ball joints themselves. Got the press from Autozone and popped them out and pressed the new ones in. Just be sure and grease them very thoroughly if you get the autozone kind. They're 9.99 a ball joint with a Lifetime warranty. so 20 bucks and a half a saturday and you've got a brand new suspension. it's 99 bucks to rent the press but you get every bit of it back when you return it. Hope that helps

[camarofan]

I was mistaken earlier, it was 2 hours total for both sides on labor as mississippimaro stated on the lowers. If you do uppers at the same time add about 45 minutes. They are riveted, so you can either drill or chisel the rivets out and the new ones bolt in.

If you are choosing to do them yourself, place the car on jackstands by the frame. Then you will need to use a floorjack underneath the lower control arm to compress the coil spring, basically keeping the lower control arm from springing down and damaging you or the car.

Tools needed that I can think of:
ball joint press
jackstands
floorjack
pickeling fork(seperating balljoints and tierod ends from spindle)
17-22mm sockets and a good 1/2" ratchet(wrenches will work)
Good sized hammer
Chisel or drill and bit(upper rivets)
3/8 or 7/16 allen socket/wrench for the calipers
8-10mm sockets or wrenches(brake line & ABS brackets)
1/2" wrench and socket(bolts on new uppers)
Pair of side cutters(for the cotter pins)
couple cotter pins(new ones come with the ball joints, but when removing the spindle the tie rods need to be removed so new ones here)
Grease gun
possibly a 6mm(for the grease zerks on the ball joints)

Always a good idea to spray thorougly with penetrating oil and let soak for about 10-15 minutes before starting.

Be a good time for brakes as well if you think you may need them.

Wouldn't have a thing to do with gas mileage though.

[ September 30, 2003: Message edited by: camarofan ]</p>

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MississippiMaro:
so 20 bucks and a half a saturday and you've got a brand new suspension.<hr></blockquote>

Did you notice any difference with the new ball joints?
I'm gonna tackle this project REAL soon.

-Marc

[MississippiMaro]

Oh hell yeah. It was tight and didn't clatter as much over potholes that normally throw my car off the road when i hit them. beware though once you replave the ball joints you're gonna want to tackle other stuff to make the suspension tight. I'm debating on whether or not to get 1LE upper and lower a-arms

[MississippiMaro]

Oh hell yeah. It was tight and didn't clatter as much over potholes that normally throw my car off the road when i hit them. beware though once you replave the ball joints you're gonna want to tackle other stuff to make the suspension tight. I'm debating on whether or not to get 1LE upper and lower a-arms