bitchin_buick

Can't seem to get the new Ball Joint to go in straight! I have the press and the control arm looks fine. It keeps wanting to go in at a slight angle. Will it pop in ok if its going in at an angle? I line it up good then after 2 turns its "offset" again. so I have to tap it out & try again. Dont want to warp/Egg the recieving hole on the control arm. >> INPUT? Project is now at a HALT

RBob

iTrader: (1)

I've found some brands of ball joints are made oversize (50 - 60 thou). This causes issues with an arm that is still in good condition. If you have dial calipers or access measure the OD of the stock joint and the new joint. Any more then 10-thou larger and this will happen.

The other thing to do is to lube the joint where it presses into the arm. Need a high pressure type of lube to prevent galling. Some folks use anti-seize. I use moly lube, such as cam break in stuff. Just a thin coat and it helps in getting the ball joint in and seated.

RBob.

bitchin_buick

I ended up taking off the entire control arm. Gonna replace thier bushings anyways. Finally got the first side installed..... It seems to be in there good n' tight. I groved it just a tad when I it went offset on me while wrenching it the first 3 times. I hope it's ok!

bitchin_buick

The round rubber pad that sits on top of the front coil springs, are those hard to come by? Or can I just snag some at autozone?

bitchin_buick

Must be the Buick...............

camaronewbie

If your using a rental type ball joint press - this always happens - they want to go in at an angle - the tool just isn't quite right to get it in straight. When I did mine, I'd do 2 turns, then reposition the press, and do 2 more, then again, and again, until I got it in straight. It's a PITA, but just keep working them in slowly and as evenly as you can.

When rplacing the coils springs, use black electrical tape to tape the rubber isolators to the tops of the springs, so that they don't fall out or move on you - they need to be seated correctly with the top of the spring correctly in the indentions in the rubber. Also note that the bottom of the coil spring needs to be seated in the arm in such a way that the very end of the last coil sits inbetween the two drain holes in the perch - otherwise the ride height will be noticeably off.

bitchin_buick

This mornining finally got the second ball joint seated properly. Definetly had to pack my patiance. I like the Idea of taping on the rubber isolaters so the arn't moving all around when I put the control arm back in. As far as puting the springs in properly I took picters of each side and marked the spring and control arm with a sharpie prior to removal. Like you said don't want to reinstall them incorrectly..... Thanks for the tap idea! Are rubber isolators replacements easy to find? Was at autozone this A.M. to order control arm bushings and forgot to ask..........