Hey Folks,

I need to replace the upper control arm ball joints and had a couple of questions. If I jack up the car under the frame rail and let the suspension hang, remove wheel and brake drum, how much pressure is the spring exerting on the upper control arm? Is there a trick to swapping these out or is it pretty straight forward?

 

Anybody??? Any Help?

 

Considering the fact that you are asking this question, I anticipate that you have not replaced the front coil springs. So, if the coil springs are stock, then the answer to your question is ALOT! YOU WILL NEED a coil spring compressor. Get the kind that goes INSIDE the coil spring, and not the kind that attaches to the outside. You can rent this at just about any parts store. If you attempt to remove the control arms with the spring still in tension, you might as well have 911 on the speed dial ready to go.

Many of us have replaced our coil springs with higher tension springs that lower the front end 1". These usually do not need a coil spring compressor to do as you mentioned, as they are shorter.

Again - you will NEED a coil spring compressor.

 

Let me ask you why you think the ball joints need replacing?

 

Is it possible for me to replace the ball joint without removing the entire upper control arm? I know that it is a seperate piece held on with 4 bolts.

 

When I replaced my front brakes I went ahead and and replaced my front wheel bearings as well. After replacing the hub on the drivers side I was jiggling it around to make sure there was no play between the bearings and the spindle. I found a small (1/16 to 1/8) play when I lifted up on the hub. Come to find out after much looking and screwing around that the play is in the upper control arm ball joint. It is not severe, but I don't have any play on the other side so I thought I should swap it out. I was just wondering if you could do it without completely removing the spring and upper control arm.

 

No you can't. The spring is exerting about 1000 lbs. of pressure, so you must use a spring conpressor to get it out before you can remove the upper control arm to get the ball joint out. If there is anything near 1/16" of play, then the ball joint must be replaced.

 

Hey Glen,

If I jack the car up under the frame rails and let the suspension hang, doesn't that take a lot of pressure off of the spring?

 

Yes. You still need to take the spring out to get the upper control arm off to get the ball joint replaced.

 

Thanks...guess it will just be a bigger project than I thought....what else is new with these cars!