OK I just bought to new ball joints for my 85 and want to know how fast can i do it i change struts on one of this before so i know remove 2 screws holding struts and how do i take ball joints out,

My car feels wabaly ,left right left right, i'm changing struts soon and bushings i changed one idler arm to used one i had was good but it still goes left right left you know what i mean, what else can it be, im driving 2 hours away and dont want to take a chance on getting in accident, dont want to damage car lol . let me know thanks

 

Once you have the strut off the steering arm you remove the nut the strut covers. That will expose the ball joint on the control arm. IIRC they are all press out units so you'll probably need to remove the whole control arm. Press out the old, press in the new, and put it back together.

 

So do they have a tool i can get and take them out, or only a press type for pressure will only work,?

 

I've heard that when the idler arm starts going out you get a wander too. Might check that as well.

 

I've always used a 30 ton press because its what I have. I don't know what else you could use, it takes quite a bit of pressure to get the out/in.

 

I have a 12 ton press that's more than adequate for pressing them in and out. What you need to watch during pressing is to minimize distortion of the arm around the ball joint. Some replacement ball joints come with circlips, some don't. Those that don't it's best to add 2-3 tack welds at the top since the arm has been re-stretched during pressing.

 

I've been told by a technician at the shop I go to that the heat from putting welds on the ball joint could warp the metal a bit.

 

I "rented" a ball joint press kit from Autozone. Works fine...

Also, check out the tie rod ends and suspension bushings while you're down there.

Tie rod ends: www.rockauto.com

Suspension bushings, shocks/struts: www.re-speed.com


.

 

Wow thanks guys I will check this out and I will defently check out auto zone I usually rent stuff from them never had to take one out like this before I just need to do it in one day since I dont want to leave car hanging on driveway, My wife says just drive her lexus Um no is not a Rotary ha ha lol,she says im weird hey she should know me by now,

 

True, if one gets carried away. A good welder can place small tack welds without doing any harm.

 

Well I'm doing this my self and no welder so going to try auto zone tomoroow i Will keep you updated

 

Typically a wander from left to right at speed would be tie-rods... ball joints would cause a clunking noise when you hit bumps, like pulling out of the driveway at slower speeds..... your wonder could also be due to a worn steering box that needs some adjustment.

 

Well im going to do the basll joints first since i know their bad and im going to check everything else once im underneath the car ,,but with this cold weather in florida i think im going to wait, man I moved from the chicago area to get better weather now i think i should move to Puerto Rico for way better weather,

 

There's a guy on ebay selling brand new oem control arms w/ball joints and bushings for 159.00 apr. Shipped. I got a pr just to keep on the shelf for future use. These are like gold!