New String - Upper Ball joint and Lower Control arm

[MetalBlue85GT]

Thanks for the tips - I got the top Ball joint to pop waiting on UPS now to finish that, and i got a OE like replacement, and flat side was up, got the lower control arm off and the metal sleeves out - I am reading on how to get the rubber out, I have the proper tools I believe, the same press that I pushed out the metal sleeve with. (borrowed from Advance auto) Anyone need the tool while I have it checked out ? 

I might just have the metal Blue car out on the road tomorrow for the alignment - Assuming I can get the spring back on.

Oh one tip - the steering rack is in the way to get the forward LCA bolt out - I was able to force by it without damaging the rubber I hope it goes in better. I may need a new bolt, this one was a little rusty and deteriated.

people like pictures:

[MetalBlue85GT]

one more picture.

[Fierofool]

Did you use the balljoint press to push out the control arm bushings?  I rented one like that for the ball joints and found it to be almost useless for ball joints.  Had to do a lot of rigging with 1 inch drive sockets to get it to work. 

Glad it has some use other than ball joints. 

[MetalBlue85GT]

Yes i used that kit for the LCA Bushings. Its titled Ball joint and U joint service set. I cannot see how I would use that for ball joints unless it was for the lower balljoint then I see a way as long as it was off the car completely. It was Free to borrow from advanced of course with a credit deposit.

In the process, the rubber looked original and it pooped out with some force from that C Clamp with the outer sleeve attached. Then i used a differnt size 2" i think and push about four different areas of the rubber and then once down the middle and the rubber pushed out. I have most of it back together and I am looking up torque values. It was a little of a cursing party in here for a little while trying to get the LCA back in there. My strength was not helpful and the jack seemed to bind everything up. So finally i just started putting it all back together with spring and all and the spring seemed to help center everything so the bolts would go through. I will post a pick in a bit of the set and I bought Rodneys tool for the Ball joints - That did it; I was only changing the upper so I didnt have to popped the bottom just will have to reset torque.

Fun stuff - I may be able to align it tomorrow and come out Saturday. I cannot wait - I just put new front shocks on too.

Randy

[MetalBlue85GT]

Here are the pics.

Anyone have an extra Tie Rod end laying around the head of the bolt stripped and a DIE did not fix it, it now just made it hard to tighten and so now the tie rod is spinning and I cannot get it torqued down.

I will order one tomorrow If I dont hear from anyone; they are nowhere in the stores.

That black lever is what i used to take off the Tie rod - Some how that or my hammering hit the tie rod.


This is what I used to keep the spring as loaded as i could.


This is the Ball joint remover I got from Rondeys.



Here is what stripped...

[Fierofool]

Yes, I rented the tool in your first picture and I did the ball joints with the control arms on the car.  Some of the adapters wouldn't fit up inside the control arm contours so I had to use some one inch drive sockets that I had to get in there and press on the ball joint.   

[MetalBlue85GT]

Yay! I unstripped the Tie Rod!!!! Progress...

[MetalBlue85GT]

Project complete:

- R&R LCA bushings replaced with Poly (completed the work the previous owner started.)

- R&R the top left Ball joint.

- R&R front shocks with Monroe Sensa Trac.

- Greased the front end.

- R&R rear L and R side turn signals (Thanks Don for the Clip - it was the shorter of the two you gave me.)


I took the car to Tires plus on Wade Green and hickory grove and the alignement is great.

Went for a short ride and now to return all the tools...

... on the road again...