derekguzz

did the bottoms of the front but the upper ball joint is giving me trouble. I took the cut off tool and grinded the rivets off the TOP. I took the grease fitting off and can't seem to POP the top of the ball joint off. Do I have to grind off the bottom of the upper ball joint rivets? I am confused how to get these off. PLease help guys.

slickfx3

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...-pictures.html

derekguzz

Once the top rivets are ground off I still don't see how I am supposed to get them out the the arm.

Coupe89

I used a punch and hammer to get them out.
I vice comes in handy too

slickfx3

minimally a C clamp and socket and a right size bolt

engle1147

If you drill (use a bit that is smaller than the rivet's diameter)into/through the remaining portions of the rivets (from the top side - the side you did the grinding on) the rivets will be much easier to bang through with a punch & hammer

derekguzz

WOW> What a friggen pain. I landed up taking the upper control are off and working on it that way. Once I pried the top of the ball joint off, I then used the cut off tool to cut off the exposed rivet. Then took a hammer and I guess metal rod and went to work jammin the rivet out. I got one side done in about 2 hours. The next side is due tomorrow.

redvetttes

next side if faster

slickfx3

pics?

engle1147

big fun

- I hope you marked your "A" arm's shims location/positionbefore you pulled them-
Keep at it.
Hit the alignment shop once your done.

derekguzz

YEAHHHHH...ummmm....the A-arms...well I forgot to take a pic of the shims in the arms. I looked at the other side to compare but the other side is not the same. What should I do now?

JackDidley

Now you have to get an alignment.

larry93lt1

If anything take a pic. One picture is worth a thousand (cuss) words.

Was that Confucous who said that ?

klkordzi

The easiest way I've found is to grind off the top of the rivets like you did. I then used a punch to push the rivet out completely. Once you have the rivet out the ball joint will fall out.

Rob31

...

derekguzz

Sorry. I got them all out. Same method.

1). grind off top rivets
2). tap top ball joint cover off
3). take off the control arm in the car and place on the ground
4). Take a strait tap or metal screw or anything skinny enough to go through the control arm rivet holes and pound the rivets through and out
5). wiggle entire ball joint out
6). drink a beer, clean a prep for new ball joints

engle1147

Well it is too late now but what I usually do is while the shims are still in place I take a paint pen or permanent sharpe marker and draw a line across the top side of the "stack of shims" for each mounting location. Keep the stacks of shims seperated if you use only a single line or you can draw additional lines for each stack/position of shims. There is very little guess work (if any- depending on how you drew your lines) reinstalling the shims.

An alignment is still recommended after work is complete.

derekguzz

Good idea. It was more of a " rip them out " to make the rivet removal easier kinda thing. Then I learned my lesson later with the shims. Owell. I just hope my motor starts when I drop it in.

johnnyboyC4

I found it WAAAAAYY easier just to go down to Harbor Freight and buy an air hammer when I did miine last week...
The real PITA was doing the lower ones...

94vettelover2

I use a ball joint press(c style clamp) & use a old short 1/4 inch extension to press out the rivet.Worked everytime but will destroy a good 1/4 inch extension