Posted By: AB&E
upper ball joint - 02/09/11 01:37 AM
okay is there a easy way to take upper balljoint out without the correct socket on 69 bee 
thanks abe
thanks abe
upper ball joint
Posted By: moretoys
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 01:40 AM
Maybe a big pipe wrench.The socket will make it so much easier.remember,You have to reinstall it also.Local parts store could probably rent you one.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 01:51 AM
Quote:
Maybe a big pipe wrench.The socket will make it so much easier.
A pipe wrench or a large crescent WILL do it & do it nicely/correctly but it's harder as the BJ flats are not very tall. The correct socket is faster in most cases but is NOT needed. I would highly suggest removing/installing the BJ w the UCA installed in the vehicle b 4 you dissassemble everything & if it's froze judiciously use the hot wrench. R&R ing the BJ w the UCA in a vise can bend the UCA (if it's real tight) & you wont know untiel you go to tap it into the cam bolt slots then you gotta compress it just the right amt to correct it 
DAMHIK
Posted By: 70RT Charger
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 03:49 AM
I though you only used a wrench when you tighten them back up to keep the ball joint from spinning,whoops 
.I took one of my upper BJ out today with the control arm off.I laid it upside down in between 2 wooden chairs.Put the nut back on the bolt of the BJ and with about 5 hits of a 2# hammer it was out.
.I took one of my upper BJ out today with the control arm off.I laid it upside down in between 2 wooden chairs.Put the nut back on the bolt of the BJ and with about 5 hits of a 2# hammer it was out.
Posted By: therocks
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 01:50 PM
If you pounded it out with a hammer the arm is probally shot.They are threaded thats why you need the socket.I would almost say the arm is bad anyway.Something had to be wrong with that arm to start with.They dont usually want to come out even with the socket.Rocky
Posted By: AB&E
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 07:39 PM
I had a machine shop press a set out one time 
looks like I will buy socket
thanks guys for info
looks like I will buy socket
thanks guys for info
Posted By: Mapandjlp
Re: upper ball joint - 02/09/11 07:41 PM
Socket and a good impact wrench does the trick.
Posted By: 70RT Charger
Re: upper ball joint - 02/10/11 08:13 PM
Quote:I borrowed the socket to fit the other ball joint and it threaded out just fine.Compared the threads to the other upper control arm and didnt appear to be stripped.So I took the other ball joint and threaded it back into the control arm that I beat out.It tightened up just find without stripping out.
If you pounded it out with a hammer the arm is probally shot.They are threaded thats why you need the socket.I would almost say the arm is bad anyway.Something had to be wrong with that arm to start with.They dont usually want to come out even with the socket.Rocky
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: upper ball joint - 02/10/11 08:34 PM
Quote:Quote:I borrowed the socket to fit the other ball joint and it threaded out just fine.Compared the threads to the other upper control arm and didnt appear to be stripped.So I took the other ball joint and threaded it back into the control arm that I beat out.It tightened up just find without stripping out.
If you pounded it out with a hammer the arm is probally shot.They are threaded thats why you need the socket.I would almost say the arm is bad anyway.Something had to be wrong with that arm to start with.They dont usually want to come out even with the socket.Rocky
Wait till you put some miles on it , don't be surprised when it pops out .
Posted By: 70RT Charger
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 02:28 AM
Quote:John,you guys were right.The guy that I borrowed the socket off of came by the house,I showed him the upper control arm.I thought it was ok because it tightened up.He said let me see,he turned it upside down and said,lets say your traveling down the road and hit a pot hole,he took my 2 lb and smaked it one time and it popped.Made me feel stupid,so now Ill be getting another control arm.Lesson learned.Quote:Quote:I borrowed the socket to fit the other ball joint and it threaded out just fine.Compared the threads to the other upper control arm and didnt appear to be stripped.So I took the other ball joint and threaded it back into the control arm that I beat out.It tightened up just find without stripping out.
If you pounded it out with a hammer the arm is probally shot.They are threaded thats why you need the socket.I would almost say the arm is bad anyway.Something had to be wrong with that arm to start with.They dont usually want to come out even with the socket.Rocky
Wait till you put some miles on it , don't be surprised when it pops out .
Posted By: BDW
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 03:37 AM
Save your money, just tack weld the ball joint to the UCA.
Posted By: craigsmytcudas
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 03:50 AM
This tread just got dangerously stupid , NO welds seriously NO welds .
Replace the control arm , in my shop I toss several arms every year and keep several in stock , If an arms had more than one rebuild I find that ball joints will tighten up but to easily. So try not to hurt your selfs and or others .
Replace the control arm , in my shop I toss several arms every year and keep several in stock , If an arms had more than one rebuild I find that ball joints will tighten up but to easily. So try not to hurt your selfs and or others .
Posted By: BDW
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 10:34 PM
Yeah, I guess it would be really crazy to expect a weld to hold. 
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 11:09 PM
I know a guy who bounces his race car off the ground with welded upper ball joints....
Posted By: 70RT Charger
Re: upper ball joint - 02/11/11 11:46 PM
I tell you what,Im starting to get pi$$ed off.My drivers side threads look half shot,I took 3,thats right I said 3 passenger UCA,s off today and the BJ,s eat up most of the threads off of all of the UCA,s.I dont want tubulars.The new ones on ebay look like they have cheap bushings and BJ,s on them.Can I really tac these on with no problems?Im running out of time and need to get these back on before I get called out too work 
Posted By: buildanother
Re: upper ball joint - 02/12/11 03:10 AM
I haven't found too many upper arms over the years that won't hold the 135lbs of ball joint torque.(somewhere around 135 anyway, there is a spec in shop mans.) I wouldn't trust the weld myself. 
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: upper ball joint - 02/12/11 03:25 AM
I'd find a competent welder and have him weld em together ten ways from Sunday. they'll stay together and you're not going to b reusing the UCA & you'll have a way to work and can find a good UCA in your leisure
Posted By: Jwilli500
Re: upper ball joint - 02/12/11 04:28 AM
A Tack weld or four might be OK, but I wouldnt put too much heat in 'em as they might not be all steel. Some ball joints may have partial or all Polymer bearing surfaces inside.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ball_joints.htm
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ball_joints.htm
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: upper ball joint - 02/12/11 04:07 PM
Quote:didn't know that
Some ball joints may have partial or all Polymer bearing surfaces inside.
Posted By: 70RT Charger
Re: upper ball joint - 02/13/11 03:06 AM
Quote:Im pretty for sure the Moog BJ has neither inside and is all metal to metal not for sure though.
A Tack weld or four might be OK, but I wouldnt put too much heat in 'em as they might not be all steel. Some ball joints may have partial or all Polymer bearing surfaces inside.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ball_joints.htm
Posted By: Jwilli500
Re: upper ball joint - 02/13/11 11:29 PM
And your probably right, It's just hard to be sure the way theses Vendors sub stuff out to the lowest bid manufacturers. Seems like everyones quality is suffering these days. I'd still say, about 4 good size tacks would probably work, at least for awhile 
Quote:
Im pretty for sure the Moog BJ has neither inside and is all metal to metal not for sure though.