Replacing ball joints - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dubie · 09-22-2004, 05:18 PM

What is all involved in replacing upper and lower ball joints in my 72? The uppers look like they are rivotted to the A arm, is this a factory thing? Do any of them need to be pressed out?

1971 Cheyenne · 09-22-2004, 05:22 PM

The uppers are riveted in. These can be chiseled off or drilled out. a royal PITA. The lowers just have to be pressed in and out. A good machine shop will just charge you a few bucks to do this, but you have to take the lower a-arms out to take them to the shop. They make ball joint removal/installation tools, which are like c clamps with the right adapters to fit over the ball joint.

Brainchild · 09-22-2004, 06:04 PM

You might check the auto parts stores,the ones here will rent the tools to do th bottoms ones,and a grinder makes shrt work of the rivets.The new uppers just bolt in place.

Fred T · 09-22-2004, 08:57 PM

Easiest way I have found to remove the rivets on the uppers is with an angle grinder. Grind off the head, then punch the rivet through.

Also, if the ball joints have been in for quite a while, there is a tool that fits between the studs, allowing you to press studs off of the spindle. A lot easier than using a picle fork.

shadetree · 09-23-2004, 05:26 AM

This thread might do better in the suspension forum, but, I can't resist sharring my shadetree lower ball joint tool idea. I support the A frame with a piece of steel pipe, about 2" in dia, under the ball joint. Then I use a smaller piece of pipe around the stud of the ball, to beat the joint out of the A frame. It ain't pretty, but it works, and it's cheap.

*Sublvr72* · 09-23-2004, 06:14 AM

i am with the grinding of the factory upper rivets, and the lower is a press in, press out job.

*1972C10* · 09-23-2004, 06:29 AM

I change my own balljoints from start to stop No way i would remove the lower a arm and take it to a shop ..

What i do is remove the spindle or hang it up out of the way and put a jack under the lower a arm but not beneath the ball joint

Then take a BFH and knock the old ball joint out can be pretty simple sometimes takes awhile./.

To install the new one Do not put the grease fitting on yet.

Clean the hole with a die grinder with a wire brush or something similar.

then take the new ball joint and place it in the hole and take a bottle jack and jack the a arm off your other jack putting a slight amount of the truck onto the bottle jack thats under the ball joint

Then take a hammer say 40 oz or bigger and hit the lower a arm around the ball joint starting on the side do the right side then left the front then back untill its seated then install grease fitting

That way has worked for me since i was 16 so far i havent damaged anything and seems to work as good as any other method ..

You can get a little press that you operate with an impact or rachet but i have never used one and cant say as to how good they work .. I wouldnt buy one maybe if someone had one to lend me i would try it but im confident in my method..

And the grinder on the rivets works best no matter where the rivets are ball joints frame pieces . Just get a punch that will knock them out you want a blunt tipped punch say 5/16 DIA.

09-22-2004, 05:18 PM	#1
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	Replacing ball joints What is all involved in replacing upper and lower ball joints in my 72? The uppers look like they are rivotted to the A arm, is this a factory thing? Do any of them need to be pressed out? __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

09-22-2004, 05:22 PM	#2
1971 Cheyenne Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,480	The uppers are riveted in. These can be chiseled off or drilled out. a royal PITA. The lowers just have to be pressed in and out. A good machine shop will just charge you a few bucks to do this, but you have to take the lower a-arms out to take them to the shop. They make ball joint removal/installation tools, which are like c clamps with the right adapters to fit over the ball joint. __________________ Brian Pal 1971 Cheyenne 10 454/th400-Undergoing a full frame off resto. 1972 Chevy short/step 2wd, 350/th350 1983 M1009 CUCV Military K5 Blazer 1981 Dodge 1 ton 4x4 dually flatbed

09-22-2004, 06:04 PM	#3
Brainchild Still drivin' a Rat Rod Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monett Missouri Posts: 4,925	You might check the auto parts stores,the ones here will rent the tools to do th bottoms ones,and a grinder makes shrt work of the rivets.The new uppers just bolt in place. __________________ Rusty Member #13872 Instead of saying.....you are a discomfort in the back of my front.....one should be able to say...... you are a pain in the a$# 71 GMC LWB 49 Chevy 85 Chevy G20 Check out my website

09-22-2004, 08:57 PM	#4
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Easiest way I have found to remove the rivets on the uppers is with an angle grinder. Grind off the head, then punch the rivet through. Also, if the ball joints have been in for quite a while, there is a tool that fits between the studs, allowing you to press studs off of the spindle. A lot easier than using a picle fork. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

09-23-2004, 05:26 AM	#5
shadetree Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Knightstown, in, usa Posts: 2,525	This thread might do better in the suspension forum, but, I can't resist sharring my shadetree lower ball joint tool idea. I support the A frame with a piece of steel pipe, about 2" in dia, under the ball joint. Then I use a smaller piece of pipe around the stud of the ball, to beat the joint out of the A frame. It ain't pretty, but it works, and it's cheap. __________________ 1970 long fleet, 355 4 speed, primer, walnut goodies

09-23-2004, 06:14 AM	#6
Sublvr72 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2004 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 1,387	i am with the grinding of the factory upper rivets, and the lower is a press in, press out job.

09-23-2004, 06:29 AM	#7
1972C10 Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,686	I change my own balljoints from start to stop No way i would remove the lower a arm and take it to a shop .. What i do is remove the spindle or hang it up out of the way and put a jack under the lower a arm but not beneath the ball joint Then take a BFH and knock the old ball joint out can be pretty simple sometimes takes awhile./. To install the new one Do not put the grease fitting on yet. Clean the hole with a die grinder with a wire brush or something similar. then take the new ball joint and place it in the hole and take a bottle jack and jack the a arm off your other jack putting a slight amount of the truck onto the bottle jack thats under the ball joint Then take a hammer say 40 oz or bigger and hit the lower a arm around the ball joint starting on the side do the right side then left the front then back untill its seated then install grease fitting That way has worked for me since i was 16 so far i havent damaged anything and seems to work as good as any other method .. You can get a little press that you operate with an impact or rachet but i have never used one and cant say as to how good they work .. I wouldnt buy one maybe if someone had one to lend me i would try it but im confident in my method.. And the grinder on the rivets works best no matter where the rivets are ball joints frame pieces . Just get a punch that will knock them out you want a blunt tipped punch say 5/16 DIA.



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