Upper ball joint

Upper ball joint - 01/18/13 09:54 PM

Which way do the upper ball joints thread? Left or just normal screw in right?

Posted By: buildanother

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/18/13 10:09 PM

Righthand thread. Just start it as straight as you can and crank it down. There is a torque spec in shop manuals that it needs to reach to be tight enough. (If it keeps spinning brfore that torque is reached, the arm is no good)

Posted By: Paul_Fancsali

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/18/13 10:20 PM

Get out the welder bet you have to do some tacking

Posted By: CurYellowBird

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 01:39 AM

I spent a couple hours and used enough PB blaster to kill a horse. Been working on the front end since 10 this morning. I've decided the only way to get this done is to take the socket and control arm with me and have a shop get the damn thing out. Might as well do the control arm bushings at the same time too.

Posted By: sthemi

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 06:12 AM

I have used a 3/4 inch breaker bar with a 8ft pipe to break it loose.
and the last car I did, I used my IR 2131 1/2 impact set on KILL and they came out...no fun..
the bushings are no fun either...

Posted By: rowin4

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 06:41 AM

The first ones I took out I used good size pipe wrench with a pipe on the end. They came out hard. New ones went in easy, used the same pipe wrench without the pipe.

Posted By: kentj340

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 10:16 AM

Remove upper ball joint with an impact wrench. That's what a repair shop will do.

Remove/install UCA bushings with a large diameter threaded rod, nuts, and spacers. Not a snap, but not too hard. Or use this kit:

http://www.americanmuscle.biz/Suspension_Tools_s/1.htm

Posted By: 5spdcuda

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 02:20 PM

It may very well be harder to get it out if you remove the UCA from the car. Use an impact wrench and heat, it will come out. When installing the new ball joint use care to start the threads evenly. Mininum torque is 125 ft. lbs. I shoot for 150.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/19/13 05:29 PM

Quote:

I spent a couple hours and used enough PB blaster to kill a horse. Been working on the front end since 10 this morning. I've decided the only way to get this done is to take the socket and control arm with me and have a shop get the damn thing out. Might as well do the control arm bushings at the same time too.

If you do go to a shop make sure they know they SCREW OUT , if they press them out your arm is JUNK .

Posted By: red 69 runner

Re: Upper ball joint - 01/20/13 01:49 PM

I removed my old ones with a pipe wrench.when I put the new ones in one side I was able to thread all the way in by hand but the other side I needed a socket ($27.00 at NAPA,they had it on the shelf)since the 1 side went in so easy I just had both tacked in after torking for safety.if i ever have to replace them again i will probably just buy new upper control arms.