To replace the upper ball joint for models from 1969 to 1971, raise the car on a hoist or jack stands, remove the front wheel, and separate the upper and lower ballstuds from the steering knuckle using a balljoint separator or a thick bolt if necessary, ensuring the lower control arm is supported. Check for wear by reinstalling the nut and measuring the torque; if it's excessively high or low, replace the joint. Cut or grind off the securing rivets, clean the control arm, and install the new joint with the supplied nuts and bolts, tightening them to the specified torque. Reconnect the ballstuds to the steering knuckle, lubricate the new joint, reinstall the front wheel, and lower the vehicle. For models from 1972 to 1980, raise the front end, remove the wheel, and the upper ballstud cotter pin, then loosen the ballstud nut by one turn. Remove the ballstud nuts, swing the steering knuckle out of the way, and support the upper arm with a block of wood. Check for lateral play in the balljoint; if necessary, grind off the rivets carefully, install the new balljoint with the provided nuts and bolts, and torque-tighten. Align the ballstud collar pin hole, remove the wooden block, ensure the tapered hole in the steering knuckle is clean, and install the stud nut with cotter pin. Lubricate the joint. For the lower ball joint replacement, raise the front end, remove the ballstud cotter pin, and loosen the ballstud nut by one turn. Press out the balljoint stud, remove the lower stud nut, and free the knuckle from the ballstud while removing the wheel. Support the upper control arm with a block of wood, press out the lower balljoint using a vise and tubular spacers, and install the replacement balljoint with the air vent facing inwards. Align the ballstud cotter pin hole, remove the wooden block, ensure the tapered hole in the steering knuckle is clean, install the stud nut, torque-tighten, and lubricate the new joint before replacing the wheel and lowering the car.
Posted by GMPartsGiant Specialist