Okay, my g/f and I just bought an '86 S10
Blazer 4x4 that I was asking about awhile back. Got the Blazer and $250 in trade for her '86 Sentra, so I'd say it was a good deal...
Okay, the Blazer needs a bit of work. 243K mi, plugs were so worn that the ignition coil was arcing to the wiring harness causing a misfire, etc...
Okay, I've fixed all the simple stuff, but it also needs 4 new ball joints! (yes, all four) The upper joints sound easy, just drill out the rivets and replace - it's the lowers that I'm wondering about. Since BJ's on a Camaro are pressed as well, I was wondering if anybody had any DIY advice?
The chiltons manual says that since the lower ball joints are pressed in, to get some sort of special tool to press them out. My local NAPA says they've never heard of such a tool, and maybe adapt something based
off a big C-clamp.
So, has anyone here replaced their own balljoints? Any pointers? We'd really rather save $200 in labor and do it ourselves.

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-'77 Camaro - 357, home-ported 882's, home-ported iron intake, Q-jet, headers, hyper flattops, ~8.5:1, 214/224 cam, 112LSA
-'86 Camaro ____/700-R4, 2.73's. Original engine cracked - 350, or 383 now?
-'92 LeBaron LX sedan - all family owned, great daily driver. 52mm TB, more mods coming...

There was a recent issue of CarCraft I think, where they mentioned that tool. They rented it for the day at AutoZone, look there.

MaTt

if it is 4x4 it does not have any pressed in ball joints.all of them are riveted in and with htat kind of milage they may have been changed before.they are kinda comon on those trucks.if they have been changed they will be bolted in like 2nd gen cars are on the upper.if not riveted.really easy job to do them.let me know if you need anymore info ive done tons of these things at work.nasty355@aol.com

p.s. that tool is called a balljoint press,and it does look like a huge c-clamp.

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efi the only way to fly

Kind of a tough job unless you're experienced with this. Have to remove tie rod end, drill out rivets, pull spindle from axle (that big nut is tight), remove joint from spindle. One big hammer job all around.

I did the ones on my bravada in my parents garage in about an hour a side, a good drill, and a cold chisel work wonders (mine were just rivited)

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Yahoo messenger ID archemedes74 feel free to add me
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yeah i takes me about an hour a side in a garage without a lift using hand tools.but if you never did it before give yourself some time.also i beleive the axle nut is a 35 or 36 mm i dont remember off hand.

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efi the only way to fly

Yeah, I think all of them are bolted in right now - hard to tell under a layer of grime, grease, and mud...
Well, we've got plenty of other cars to drive, so I can take my time on this!

Why the axle nut? I didn't think THAT had to come off - just the castle nuts...

ok.1st step take off axle nut.do this before removing the brakes so if it spins hub(and it will)you can just have someone stand on the brake pedal.next remove caliper and rotor set alongside no need to disconnect brake hose.next remove tie rod from spindle.upper ball joint stud next dont remove nut all the way leave on a couple threads.remove lower balljoint nut all the way.crack the ball joints loose ith either pickle fork or bfh.removeupper nu the rest of the way.slip spindle downward and off axle.once spindle is out of way just change joints and reverse to assemble.might b a good idea to soak all nuts and bolts with pb blaster or something of the sort.good luck.oh yeah you cant remove lower ball joint with spindle in.

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efi the only way to fly

uh, I did one side yesterday. Why would you remove the brakes? They weren't in the way at all, and I didn't have to move the spindle around much like it would be stressing the brake hose.
Okay, I did the top and bottom seperately.
Maybe you worked on a 2WD Blazer? On the 4WD, the front disk is only held in by the lugnuts and the caliper - don't have to remove the axle nut to get it off.

you can do it without pulling the axle nut, but be carefull or you'll have to replace the axle when you tear that boot

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Yahoo messenger ID archemedes74 feel free to add me
Give blood play hockey!