2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2002 2wd ball joints,

[ironbutt]

Was looking at them today, and it looks as if they are rivitted onto the control arms. To change them ,do you drill out the rivvets and bolt in new ones or am I missing something ? ( they have a little play in them on the lower ones). Any help will be appreciated. The shop manual doesn't address changeing, only testing. Thanks.

 

[RClark]

Grind them off. New joints available at NAPA and bolt in.

 

[ironbutt]

does the napa ones come with zirk fittings , and how do they compare with Moog???? are they grade 8 bolts??

 

[RClark]

There are greasefittings. Otherwise I don't know as my mechanic installed them.

 

[SHobbs]

Just did mine and it was not fun. You can jack the truck up with the frame take the wheel off and place a floor jack under the lower control arm. After that release the upper ball joint then lower the floor jack under the lower arm slowly all the way down, no need for a spring compressor the spring will just fall out. I left my brake calipers on the hub and was careful to not twist the brake lines. The only way I could get the rivots out was to grind one side flat, then drill through the center with a 3/16 bit and then knock them out. I used an old socket to knock them out. If you have access to an air hammer it would be very helpful. I replaced mine with Moog from Rockauto which will give you a 5% discount by using the discount code Turbodiesel.



While you have it down you might as well replace the control arm bushings as well. The rivots and the upper control arm bushings were the toughest part for me. The bushings have to knocked in or pressed in to replace them. If you do the bushings make sure the lower ones have a metal cup around them. Should have an inner sleeve then the bushing then a metal cup on the outside. I got my bushings from Energy Suspension and the lowers did not have the metal cup on them. Feel free to PM me if you need more help