Front End Help

Ok, I am finaly installing the front end rebuild kit I bought a year ago! I am having the car painted next week, so the pressire is on to get it done. After removing the spring last night I started on the upper ball joint. My faher had changed this to a bolt-in in 1975 so I thought I was home free. Well, I removed the three bolts holding in on and it won't budge! Do I drive the joint upwards to remove? It has a threaded stud that points down towards the spindle, that is not bolted in is it? Am I making any sense here? The front end is not my area of expertise.. Thanks for the help.. Scott

 

Once you remove the 3 bolts, one on each side of the hump where the grease fitting comes out, and one behind it, the whole ball joint should just drop right out of the bottom of the A frame. I have never seen one stick but if it is, you should be able to take a punch and drive it down and out by going through the cutout (hole) where the grease fitting is.

 

The "bottom" of the A frame? need to re-look tonight when I get home. I also removed the nut on the botton of the joint, did not help. The rubber cups (lack of a better word) sit on TOP of the A frame. The go down through the hole?

 

You did separate the balljoint from the spindle??

 

Yes, did you remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the ball joint, and use a splitter or BFH to seperate the spindle from the ball joint stud?

 

removed the 3 bolts on top, removed the castle nut on bottom. Did not use the BFH! I guess I thought when I unbolted the ball joint it would fall out! NAIVE! Give me a cylinder head to port and I would be happier!!

 

merc, tell me more. The upper arm is out, the ball joint is on top of the spindle. Now what? Can I do this w/o the tool? I do have the BFH

 

Since the upper arm is out, you will need pickle fork in order to separate the ball joint from the spindle. Some part stores rent them or loan them out with a deposit.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0174711342.1145584227@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccecaddhighdhllcegecegjdghldfom.0&vertical=SEARS&sid=I0033900150001800085&pid=00947688000

 

I have it, drove it all the way in and no luck!

 

the balljoint looks like a trailer hitch yes? With the bal on top and a stud that goes through the hole in the spindle? I have it all apart and yet can not get the stud to come out of the top of the hole in the spindle, it is not threaded is it ?

 

The stud is tapered. Once the nut is loose it will seperate with a little influence. Best practice is to pop them loose before removing the a-arm.

http://www.steering-suspension.com/ball_joints.htm?OVRAW=ball%20joint&OVKEY=ball%20joint&OVMTC=standard

 

hee hee NOW YOU TELL ME!! Kidding.. hammering away here..

 

got it.. gee that was fun..

 

You won't make that mistake again!

 

dunno about that! There is still the other side to do!!