Lower ball joint

Tiny
BOBBY818
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 296,687 MILES
How do I change it?
Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 2:21 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

I attached the procedure below with some pictures for you. You will need a portable press for the removal and installation of the ball joint.

Roy

Tools Required
J 9519-D Ball Joint Remover and Installer Set.
J 23742 Ball Joint Separator.

Raise the vehicle and support the frame with suitable safety stands.

1. Tire and wheel assembly.
Place a floor jack under the control arm spring seat and raise it until it supports the control arm.

CAUTION: Floor jack must remain under the control arm spring seat during removal and installation to retain the spring and control arm in position or personal injury may result.

2. Caliper.

Important: Support the caliper with a piece of wire to prevent damage to the brake line.

3. Cotter pin and the nut (67).

ImageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

Use J 23742 to break the ball joint loose from the knuckle.

4. Lower control arm (40) from the knuckle.
Guide the control arm out of the splash shield with a screwdriver while lifting the upper control arm with a pry bar.

Important: Block the knuckle assembly out of the way by placing a wooden block between the frame and upper control arm.

ImageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

5. Lower ball joint (69) from the lower control arm.

Inspect
The tapered hole in the steering knuckle and remove any dirt. If the hole is out of round, deformed or damaged, the knuckle must be replaced.

Installation

imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

Tool Required
J 9519-30 Ball Joint Remover and Installer Set.

1. New ball joint (69) into the lower control arm (40).
Press in the ball joint using tools in. The ball joint will bottom on the control arm.

2. Bail joint stud into the steering knuckle.
3. Stud nut (67) onto the stud.

Tighten
Tighten nut (67) to 115 Nm (84 ft. Lbs.) And align the slot in the stud nut with the hole in the stud by tightening.

4. New cotter pin (68) to the stud.
5. Caliper.
6. Tire and wheel assembly.
Lower the vehicle.

Important: Check the front end alignment.
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 6:48 AM
Tiny
BOBBY818
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi my lower ball joint is bolted in. My truck has a 6 inch pro comp lift on it and my ball joint looks to be real easy to replace. What I am having a problem with is getting it off the knuckle because the knuckle has too g o downward to separate from the joint. So do I need to loosen my torsion bar and take the hub off or can I just pop the upper ball joint and then the lower one and move the knuckle out of the way and unbolt the ball joint then put the new one in and just put it back together or is there something I need to know first like torsion bar or the the drive axle do I need to go through all that or just unbolt and rebolt it looks easy I just like to know what I am doing before I do it that is and I do appreciate your help thank you.
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, you never mentioned it was a 4X4.

Yes, the torsion bar has to be backed off to release the pressure to allow the arm to move down.

The other way is to release the upper ball joint and lift up the upper control arm to free the lower to move.

Roy
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
BOBBY818
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you.
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
BOBBY818
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi, I was wondering about the torsion bars. How do I take the tension off them? Do I just need to loosen the bolt on the cross member? I have never had to mess with them before. Thank you again.
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 AT 5:36 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
I attached a picture for you.

Yes, you loosen the bolt all the way back to release the tension.

Roy
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
BOBBY818
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you. Oh do I need that tool or just count the threads and match it back up with what it was when I started? I know enough to not remove the adjusting bolt just mark it and align it back up, right. Well I appreciate everything Thank you.
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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I would count the number of turns you back off so you can tighten it back up to the original position.

Roy
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Thursday, May 16th, 2019 AT 6:19 AM

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