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I have a 2001 chevy blazer and am replacing the upper ball joint. It looks like there are pressed in revits, do I drill them out? Or do they need to be broken out with some type of splitter?
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YOU NEED SOME TOOLS LIKE 1/8 1/2 DRILL BITS.YOU NEED A PUNCH.YOU NEED A BALL JOINT SEPERATOR.YOU NEED BALL JOINT PRESS TOOL TO PRESS OUT BALL JOINT AND PRESS IN NEW BALL JOINT.YOU WILL NEED A HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL TO SHOW YOU PHOTOS AND GIVE YOU YOUR TORQUE SPECS.
Changing the actual ball joints themselves is pretty easy (the replacements just bolt in), however disassembling everything else is very involved, especially if you have a 4x4. Some of the original equipment ball joints are riveted in, so you may need to drill out the rivets to remove the old ball joints. Some models have ball joints that are pressed in. (Your model should not be pressed in. They are either riveted or bolted if they have been replaced already) This is not a job I would recommend to someone who does not know how to do it. You need to disassemble/take tension off the suspension, disassemble the steering knuckles, etc. There are specialized tools you will need as well such as a pickle fork for breaking the knuckle away from the ball joint/A arm, spring compressor or torsion bar removal tool (depending on what your vehicle is equipped with), torque wrench, etc.
If you are set on tackling it anway, do yourself a favor and go to your local auto parts store and pick up a repair manual for your Blazer. It will have the procedure to step you through it, torque specs, and tool part numbers listed in it.
Raise vehicle up on jack stands so that the stands are under the lower controll arms and the suspension is "loaded"
Remove the front tire(s) (if you break the torque on the nuts while the wheel is still on the ground it helps, but do not loosen them completely as you will be looking for new rims and wheel studs too).
Place a drift or some other suitable object in one of the brake rotor vanes so that it will hit the brake caliper and stop the rotor from moving and remove the CV shaft nut (it's a big ****** make sure you have the right socket on hand before getting to this point).
Next remove the brake caliper and rotor then undo the wheel bearing retaining bolts and remove the wheel bearing.
This should give you enough room to move the axle shaft back and up so you can work on the ball joint.
If you've had ball joints replaced before just unbolt the ones that are installed and using a pickle fork, or a block of wood and a hammer, drive the ball joint stud from the knuckle. (make sure to support the upper control arm so it doesn't drop down on you when you do this)
If you are working on original ball joints then I reccomend placing a block of wood or something else that will protect the cv boots from drill bits ect and drill out the rivets holding the ball joint in place. then remove in the same manner indicated in the previous paragraph.
installation is pretty much the reverse of removal and don't forget to torque your cv shaft nut I have a 1999 and the manual specs 103FTlbs... This is a critical torque as it helps preload your wheel bearing. Too high and you'll burn them up, too low and they'll be loose and wear out.
the upper ball joints are rivited or bolted if yhey have been replaced before
the lower ball joints on a 2WD are pressed in
the lower ball joints on a 4X4 are rivited or bolted
its easier to get the whole control arm and the lower one has to be pressed in. it is not and easy job if you dont have the right tools checkout rockauto.com to look at the replacement parts and to get a price on them
If they are the original ball joints you will have to remove the rivets on them. The new ones should come with replacement nut and bolts. You will have to remove the brakes, and move the steering knuckle out of the way (You don't have to remove the tie rod end). It isn't difficult, just time consuming. You can do it in the driveway on stands. Make sure you have a couple hours, and a case of beer.
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