Tips for Replacing Those Ball Joints

This job is a toughy. Replacing the upper and lower ball joints on a rear wheel drive vehicle is not a job to be taken lightly. You are going to need some special tools, heavy wrenches or ratchets and sockets.

The parts are not especially expensive but getting the old parts out and the new ones in can be a lengthy process. Given the nature of this type of job, it would also be a good idea to replace the front shocks while you are at it as the old ones need to come out anyway. If your shocks have 20 to 50 thousand miles, you may want to go ahead and replace them now.

Let's go over some of the tools you are going to need. While you are at the auto parts store ask them if they have a tool loaner program. This is where they loan you the specialized tools that you are going to need. They will ask for a returnable deposit, so be prepared. You are going to need a coil spring compressor, and a half inch drive torque wrench as your loaner tools. It would also be a good idea to ask if they have a tool suitable for breaking loose a ball joint from the steering knuckle. Once you have your parts and tools, it is time to get to work.

First you want to lift the front of the vehicle and support it securely with jack stands. Remove the first wheel and begin the job by removing the shock absorber. Now remove and plug the flexible brake line. Once the shock is out of the way you can position the coil spring compressor and using your heavy ratchet, crank the spring down so that once the ball joint is released the spring wont shoot out of it's cradle and do major damage to your body. I have seen a spring pop out of it's mount and lift a grown man who was standing on the control arm about 8 feet into the air. He was unharmed but I think you get the idea of how powerful a compressed and suddenly released spring can be.

With the spring compressed you can now remove the nuts or bolts holding the ball joint immobile in the upper control arm. The bottom ball joint usually has a cotter key and a large nut to remove to free up the ball joint and remove it. Keep in mind you may have to use a heavy hammer and energetic persuasion to get the ball joints out of their sockets. Once out clean the sockets with a wire brush to remove debris and corrosion.

The new ball joints are fitted in and the steering knuckle reassembled in reverse order. Once all the nuts and bolts are tight reattach the brake line and determine if the brakes need to be bled. Install a new shock absorber and once that is done you can slowly release the coil spring and remove the compressor tool. Use the torque wrench to bring all the nuts and bolts on the new ball joints up to factory specifications. The other side of the vehicle gets all the same treatment as the first side.

Last thing you need to do is get the front end aligned. Changing the ball joints may have also changed your alignment and to avoid premature tire wear, this needs to be done soon as possible. Do not wait even a week. Only a couple hundred miles of mis-aligned wear on those tires can take months of good tread away from you. And that means big money out of your pocket.