Ball Joints, removing entire control arm?

is it neccesary to remove the entire control arm to do the ball joints?
and how long will it take me approx

thanks for your help

Usually takes me 2.5 - 4 hours for both side lower BJ's on a hoist with all the neccessary tools. pray all your bolts come out clean. Yes, take the arms right outta the car.

You don't need to remove the control arms, or have the use of a hoist.

You can use a ball joint press, and do them right on the car, takes me about 30 minutes a side.

You also use that press to get them back in.

The press looks like a c-clamp on steroids lol
Works well, I have never not had one come out with it.

Have fun.

cool thanks guys

cheers

YES, and have the ball joints fall out, cock to one side and break, mash your hands, stretch the flex line.....etc etc etc.

HAVE FUN!

i just lower the car down so the arm is supported by a jackstand take the c-clip off and bang it out with a hammer and press it in with my ball joint press no need to remove the arm your just making more problems for youself if you do IMO

I've done many balljoints without removing the control arms, haven't had any problems. Just gotta make sure they're straight, Just like neonimus said, 30-45 minutes per side.

Trust me it's a lot more hassle pulling the arms, especially since the bolts almost always seize or brake loose from their cage nuts. However, if u gotta do bushings, might as well do it all with the arms out.

LoL Jr, I know you were just joking!

You funny guy you! :lol:

You guys laugh. I work at the dealer, where, all of the FUBAR'd ball joints come into because some jackass with tools thinks he can put shit in himself, and have to fix it. Along with all the other *bob saget*-ups.


Just sayin.


EDIT: and you guys wonder why the upper strut muonts and bearings always go...... :lol:

This post has been edited by neonjr on Friday, July 30, 2010 @ 08:53

I Hear ya Josh,

But he asked a question, and I just gave him an answer that I know works.

Yes, you work at a dealer, and maybe you do things differently at the dealer then I might do on some jobs.

But what I told him is correct, I know this because I've done it that way for years, and have never had a problem.

Yes, there are tards who may pretend to know what their doing, and may screw things up, or simply don't have the experience and proper tools to do the job.

But just because something isn't done your way, doesn't make it the wrong way.

Just say'n =)

my 2 cents,to answer the original question-NO,( prefered to remove control arm-YES)

I have always done ball joints on the car. Pt cruisers were bad as well for ball joints also. Don't know how many sets I have done in the years at Chrysler. Thats why my rope is starting to show wear from the times from tieing up the spindle assembly to the hoist to get access to the ball joint..
Josh, Flat rate buddy, flat rate. ;)

true, flat rate. But i hate doing it for free the second time when shit breaks because I was lazy. Realistically, ho much harder is it to take the arm out? Just doesn't make sense to me, when I can do it in the same time as all of you, taking the arm right out, and doing it perfectly, every time. Plus, usually doing bushings at the same time, and charge for both. Double the money, ish, half the time.

My grandfather always said, do it right, do it once.

doing it differently, doesn't make it wrong = true. doing it differently, and putting strain, or breaking OTHER parts, DOES make it wrong. ;)

To me, the risk is not worth it. Fixed too many other peoples *bob saget*-ups in 8 years.








.................my god, has it been that long already? *bob saget* me.

When you're getting into older cars like first gen, it gets increasingly difficult to remove the control arms. It can take me upwards of 4 hours with the bolts seizing to the bushing collars, having to drill the floor of the car to get at broken cage nuts and so forth.

I agree, PITA, sometimes. I guess its just me then.