Author Topic: Ball joint replacement? (Read 5093 times)

rackley · « **on:** August 19, 2005, 09:25:02 am »

How big of a job is replacing a ball joint? It looks like you could put the front end on stands, unbolt the 3+1 bolts, and the lower control arm should just fall down. Is it really this simple, or would I be better off just paying a few bucks and taking it to my local suspension guy to do?

addautomotive · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2005, 10:44:06 am »

Rackley,

I usually put it on stands, undo the pinch bolt and then pop the ball joint out from the "hub" or whatever it's called. Then I unbolt the 3 bolts from the A arm.

rackley · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2005, 11:19:34 am »

So a pretty simple job in other words?

addautomotive · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2005, 11:26:09 am »

Yup, unless yours is particularly ornery. Sometimes they get rusted in pretty good.

Northern RD · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2005, 12:19:28 pm »

Don`t forget to scatch reference marks on the control arm so that the new joint goes in as close as possible to where the old one sat,
N.

rackley · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2005, 03:54:40 pm »

Sweet, thanks for the info guys. I'll do this one myself then :-) I generally dislike doing suspension/steering work but this one sounds easy enough to avoid a trip to the shop. Thanks!

addautomotive · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2005, 11:50:06 pm »

Good luck, be sure to post and let us know how you make out.

FYI... keeping an eye on your progress in the infopop biodiesel forums... your tank looks great, what are you using to heat the vegoil?

Jake

lord_verminaard · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2005, 07:46:47 am »

Quote from: "rackley"

So a pretty simple job in other words?

Unless the factory joints are still there, in which they are usually held in with rivits.... ask me how I know.

If you need new nuts and bolts, I can find the size, beats paying techtonics for their "ball joint bolt kit".

Brendan
84 Scirocco 8v
00 Camaro L36 M49

rackley · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2005, 11:37:01 am »

Quote from: "addautomotive"

Good luck, be sure to post and let us know how you make out.

FYI... keeping an eye on your progress in the infopop biodiesel forums... your tank looks great, what are you using to heat the vegoil?

Jake

Engine coolant for the coil in the tank, engine coolant for the HIH line up the the engine bay, and a single glowplug heater just before the IP. I'll have pics up later this week when everything is connected (hopefully) :-).

rackley · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2005, 11:38:33 am »

Quote from: "lord_verminaard"

Quote from: "rackley"
So a pretty simple job in other words?

Unless the factory joints are still there, in which they are usually held in with rivits.... ask me how I know. If you need new nuts and bolts, I can find the size, beats paying techtonics for their "ball joint bolt kit".

Brendan
84 Scirocco 8v
00 Camaro L36 M49

They're definitely in there with three bolts, I looked. I just bought new bolts with the new joint and bracket, they were like $1 each for the bolts. Easier than trying to source them seperately, and still cheaper after whatever shipping would have been.

Rat407 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2005, 05:36:54 am »

You might want to have the front end aligned as well. I tried to set my ball joints back in where they were before but they were still out of alignment. Just keep an eye on your tires for wear. My new ball joints came with new bolts. Of course this is for a 91 Jetta

MacGyver · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2005, 08:26:07 am »

Quote from: "Rat407"

You might want to have the front end aligned as well. I tried to set my ball joints back in where they were before but they were still out of alignment. Just keep an eye on your tires for wear. My new ball joints came with new bolts. Of course this is for a 91 Jetta

This is good advice. I tried to set my new ones in where the old ones were too but they were off enough to start wearing the tires quickly.
Consider doing any/all suspension work you will need on both sides all at once then get it aligned, it's worth it.