I need to replace the ball joint on my 93 saturn, i have the whole control arm i would like to replace

What vehicle is this for? Could you please comment below with a make, model and year of the vehicle that way I can try to give you a more accurate answer. Replacing the control arm will depend on the vehicle you have.
Some manufacturers have the ball joint built as part of the control arm others have the ball joint as a 'Bolt On' part. 'Bolt On' parts are exactly that, bolted on. leave the control arm in place and unbolt the the ball joint from the end of the control arm. The built in ball joints can be swapped out but it is usually cheaper, easier and quicker to just change the whole control arm.

I would start by replacing the ball joint; the control arm can still be replaced if needed.

You probably should replace the whole upper control arm. I don't believe that you can separate the ball joint from the control arm without damaging it and the ball joints are not listed separately for sale. [If the ball joint is bad, the bushings can't be in very good shape, either.]


To replace the upper control arm, you need to take the weight off the spring and pop the ball joint out of the spindle with a special tool
OTC 6297 Ball Joint Separator
Then it is bolted in by the 2 pivot bolts [#3 in the diagram].

The ball joint is sold as part of the lower control arm and the whole arm has to be replaced.

Raise the front of the vehicle and support it by the frame with jack stands. Remove the front wheels using the air gun and a socket.

2 Place the floor jack under the lower control arm as close to the ball joint as possible. Raise the jack until it begins to lift the control arm. Make sure that the floor jack is positioned where it cannot slip off the control arm.

3 Remove the cotter pin in the upper control arm ball joint using the wire cutters. Remove the nut on the bottom of the upper ball joint using a wrench. Separate the ball joint using the ball joint separator tool. Insert the tool between the spindle and the upper control arm and hit it with a hammer until it comes loose from the spindle.

4 Remove the upper control arm by removing the nuts on the engine side of the arm holding it to the frame. Use a wrench for this, but as the bolts are loosened, keep the alignment shims together that are behind each nut. It will be necessary to replace these on the side they were removed from for the alignment.

5 Lift the upper control arm off and remove the upper ball joint using the ball joint installer kit. This procedure is only necessary if the new control arm does not come with a ball joint, which would be unusual.

6 Place the receiver over the bottom of the ball joint and the smaller pusher cylinder on the topside. Place the large C-clamp from the kit over the cylinders. Use the ½-inch drive air gun and socket to push the ball joint out. Reverse the process to install the ball joint. Install the upper control arm in reverse order of removal.

YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LOWER CONTROL ARM.BECAUSE THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM IS A WHOLE UNIT IN ONE. SO YOU CANT DRILL OUT AND REMOVE THE OLD LOWER BALL JOINT. AND REPLACE IT.

I think the ball joint is pressed into the lower control arm so you replace the whole shooting match. Doing the other side at the same time would be a good idea.

There is really no need to replace the whole arm assembly unless it's damaged. On the other hand it is a good idea to replace the control arm bushings, and in my opinion yes do the upper also.

the ball joints are in the control arms, they are serviced as a unit.

Hi,
Remove the castle nut on top of the ball joint that secures the ball joint to the spindle. separate ball joint/lower control arm from spindle.Remove lower control arm bolt attatching control arm to subframe/engine cradle. Remove control arm. Replacement is recersal of the removal. Nissan/Infinity ball joints can not be pressed out or in. They are replaced with the whole new lower control arm as one (On most Nissan/ Infinity vehicles, although some exeptions apply. Hope this helps.
Daniel G.