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Post by sall on Apr 30, 2015 14:57:08 GMT -6
Anyone currently on the forum changed the ball joints on their Classic? Any suggestions/tips? I have a pair of used LCA on the way(well one has arrived) and will be sprucing them up and replacing the bushings as well.
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tigger
Administrator
Posts: 2,844
Staff Member
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Post by tigger on Apr 30, 2015 17:01:46 GMT -6
Do the new(used) ones still have rivets? Drill press is much easier than hand held, haha! GL on the project!
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Post by sall on Apr 30, 2015 18:33:26 GMT -6
Tigger, the news ones are bolt in. I do have a drill press and may be the easiest option for me.
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randnon
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Post by randnon on Apr 30, 2015 22:50:44 GMT -6
They are not hard to do, Just drill or grind the head of the rivet off. Then push the remainder of the old rivet thru with a small air hammer. I have done them without removing the arm from the car and did not need to realign afterwards. Rich
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Post by ohiobuckeye on May 1, 2015 7:20:58 GMT -6
I have this job on the horizon and am contemplating purchasing new control arms that have Moog better grade ball joints and new bushings pre-installed. At $100 bucks from RockAuto it may be a no-brainer. Same ball joints are $50 by themselves, and after you add $15 bucks for bushings and then the time/labor to remove and install new, I'm not sure it's worth the $30 bucks you save. Just a thought.
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Post by sall on May 1, 2015 7:55:34 GMT -6
They are not hard to do, Just drill or grind the head of the rivet off. Then push the remainder of the old rivet thru with a small air hammer. I have done them without removing the arm from the car and did not need to realign afterwards. Rich Thanks for the vote of confidence, Randnon. You don't see many mention replacing them, along with many other wear parts. Truthfully, I really can't imagine how bad some of these Classics handle, ride and drivetrain movement. Ball joints and bushings on front LCA are the only wear components in the steering/ suspension I haven't replaced pretty much(aside from the rear bushings). HF has a small air hammer with a chisel. They have some assorted chisel/punch bits as well. That should probably do it. Og course can always use a bolt and a 3lb sledge too I figure. I have this job on the horizon and am contemplating purchasing new control arms that have Moog better grade ball joints and new bushings pre-installed. At $100 bucks from RockAuto it may be a no-brainer. Same ball joints are $50 by themselves, and after you add $15 bucks for bushings and then the time/labor to remove and install new, I'm not sure it's worth the $30 bucks you save. Just a thought. If you have a '98 or '99 then buying a new LCA is really the best bet. I don't believe both bushings are available. There are no aftermarket LCA available for the '95/96 or '97. There are no bushings available for the '97. Though the ball joints are. Plus I am going with higher durometer poly bushings than stock. I really don't mind to spend more for modification/enhancement. It's a one off ride anyhow.
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randnon
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Post by randnon on May 1, 2015 13:29:32 GMT -6
I changed all of the front end joints when I hand the engine out on the 95 in 2007. It seamed the proper thing to do and then only one alignment. As Sall said you can't get new control arms for the 95-96 so joint and bushings are the only way to go. The front suspension has been pretty trouble free with the exception of that front vertical bushing on the 95. I have replaced them 3x on the 95, the joys of potholes every spring. I also used one of those HF air hammers, they are small and cheep and disposable, you can feel free to grind the chisels for a special job if necessary. RICH
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Post by sall on May 1, 2015 13:56:15 GMT -6
I changed all of the front end joints when I hand the engine out on the 95 in 2007. It seamed the proper thing to do and then only one alignment. As Sall said you can't get new control arms for the 95-96 so joint and bushings are the only way to go. The front suspension has been pretty trouble free with the exception of that front vertical bushing on the 95. I have replaced them 3x on the 95, the joys of potholes every spring. I also used one of those HF air hammers, they are small and cheep and disposable, you can feel free to grind the chisels for a special job if necessary. RICH You have replaced the front vertical bushing three times since '07? May have misunderstood you. If so what brand have you been using. Seems like I may be making an even better choice going with poly.
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randnon
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Post by randnon on May 1, 2015 20:52:50 GMT -6
NOOO, I have replaced both the drivers side 1X when I did the HG. The passenger side front bushing 3x and the rear one 1x again when the cradle was dropped,all since when I purchased It new in 1994. They were all Moog's better units and I was able to get the part replaced. One of them was done to pass NY state inspection and was done at the service center, the rest in my garage. I think that front vertical unit is very stressed and is troublesome. I know others with a similar GM setup on Grand Prix, Lumina's have had the same failures with that vertical bushing usually on the passenger side which gets pounded more. Perhaps that is why they switched back to the normal set up on the 98's. Rich
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