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How to remove upper/ lower ball joints on 1990 GMC Suburban 4x4
I have removed the rotor, spindle, axle, and steering arms, but I can't seem to get the ball joints out to replace them. I have a ball joint fork, but it doesn't seem to budge them. How do I get them out?
Re: how to remove upper/ lower ball joints on 1990 GMC...
Hit the steering knuckle where the ball joint shaft goes through it while u have the wedge/pickle fork inserted, u do this on the round side of the knuckle, this is what is called a "Morse Taper" hitting it distorts the hole a little and that lets the joint pop free. You need at least a 5 pound ball pen for this to work..
Re: how to remove upper/ lower ball joints on 1990 GMC...
If the joints won't come out of the steering knuckle, take a large ball peen or small sledge hammer and strike the knuckle on the side, right where the joint shaft goes through it. make sure the lower arm is supported from underneath.Dont be afraid to give it a good solid shot. (I usually leave the nut on the shaft, just a few turns down so stuff dosen't fly apart.This will not damage anything and works on tie rod ends too.
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The lower control arm is a two-piece welded unit with a riveted ball joint. A conventional rubber bushing is used for the rear lower control arm pivot. The front lower control arm bushing is mounted vertically.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
Some special tools are required to perform this operation including, a front hub spindle removal tool and a suitable ball joint separator tool.
WARNING
Do not hammer or pry ball joint from knuckle. Failure to use recommended tools may cause damage to the ball joint and seal.
See Figure 1
Fig. Fig. 1: Exploded view of the control arm-to-frame mounting
Raise the vehicle and suitably support by the frame allowing the control arms to hang free.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
Remove the steering gear outer tie rod from the steering knuckle.
Remove the stabilizer shaft link from the control arm.
Remove the front drive axle shaft nut and washer.
Use a suitable front hub spindle removal tool to Push the axle splines back out of the front wheel drive shaft bearing.
Remove the drive axle from the transaxle.
Drive axle joint seal protectors should be used anytime service is performed on or near the drive axles. Failure to observe this could result in joint or seal failure.
Place a modified inner drive joint seal protector on the drive axle joints.
If equipped, remove the ABS wheel speed sensor jumper harness.
Remove and discard the cotter pin, then loosen the nut from the ball stud.
Remove the pinch bolt and the control arm mounting bolts, then remove the control arm from the vehicle.
You do not need to remove the torsion bar. just jack up the vehicle under the lower control arm. The shock will also keep the lower control arm from traveling to far.
If it has a torsion bar running through the lower control arm than it must have independent front suspension. Remove the caliper and bracket. The rotor should knock off but it can be left on. remove the axle nut. The drive axle should push through the hub. Some tapping with a hammer may be needed. Separate the upper and lower ball joints from the knuckle and remove the knuckle (you will be able to push the drive axle all the way through once the knuckle is free of the ball joints).
remove the snap ring from the lower ball joint and hit it out with a hammer. You will need a ball joint press to install the new ball joint.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for using FixYa.com!
Raise the front of the vehicle and install safety stands.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to Section 04-04 .
Remove the disc brake caliper (2B120) from the rotor and wire it out of the way. Refer to Section 06-03 .
Remove the dust cap, cotter pin, nut retainer, nut, washer and front wheel bearing (1216).
Remove the rotor from the front wheel spindle (3105).
Item
Part Number
Description
1
606085
Clamp Bolt
2
3B404
Camber Adjuster
3
800895
Nut
4
800937
Nut
5
3049
Front Suspension Upper Ball Joint
6
3050
Front Suspension Lower Arm Ball Joint
7
3105
Front Wheel Spindle
8
642569
Cotter Pin
9
3304
Steering Sector Shaft Arm Drag Link
10
383489
Nut
11
3001
Front Axle Assembly
12
388727
Bolt
A
-
Tighten to 77-103 Nm (57-75 Lb-Ft)
B
-
Tighten to 68-92 Nm (50-67 Lb-Ft)
C
-
Tighten to 113-153 Nm (83-112 Lb-Ft)
D
-
Tighten to 340-460 Nm (250-339 Lb-Ft)
Remove bearing cone and roller (1201) and wheel hub grease seal (1190). Discard the seal.
Remove front disc brake rotor shield (2K004). Refer to Section 06-03 .
Disconnect the steering linkage from the integral front wheel spindle and spindle arm by removing the cotter pin and nut and then removing the front wheel spindle tie rod from the spindle arm with Tie Rod End Remover TOOL-3290-D or equivalent.
Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the lower ball joint stud.
Remove the nut from the axle clamp bolt and remove the bolt from the axle.
Remove the camber adjuster from the upper ball joint stud and axle beam. If required, use Ball Joint Removing Tool D81T-3010-B or equivalent to remove adjuster.
CAUTION: Do not use a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the axle as this will damage the seal and the ball joint socket.
Strike the inside area of the axle as shown to pop lower ball joints loose from the axle beam.
Remove the front wheel spindle and ball joint from the axle.
Ball Joint, F-150, F-250, F-350
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED
Description
Tool Number
U-Joint Tool
T74P-4635-C
Ball Joint Remover
T94T-3010-AH Removal
Remove the front wheel spindle (3105) and ball joint assembly from the axle. Refer to Wheel Spindle, F-150, F-250, F-350 in the Removal and Installation portion of this section.
NOTE: Lower ball joint must be removed first.
Install the front wheel spindle in a vise and remove the snap ring from the lower ball joint.
Remove the lower ball joint from the front wheel spindle using U-Joint Tool T74P-4635-C and Receiver Cup D81T-3010-A5 or equivalent for F-150. Use Ball Joint Remover T94T-3010-AH for F-250 and F-350.
Turn the forcing screw clockwise until the ball joint is removed from the front wheel spindle.
CAUTION: Do not heat the ball joint or the front wheel spindle to aid in removal.
Assemble U-joint tool and cup on the upper ball joint, and turn forcing screw clockwise until ball joint is removed from the front wheel spindle.
Installation
CAUTION: Do not heat the ball joint or axle to aid in installation. NOTE: Upper ball joint must be installed into the front wheel spindle first.
NOTE: Individual ball joint tools are included in Ball Joint Adapter Set D81T-3010-A or equivalent.
To install the upper ball joint, assemble C-frame assembly, Ball Joint Receiver Cup D81T-3010-A5 and Installation Cup D81T-3010-A1 and D81T-3010-A3 or equivalents inside cup D81T-3010-A4 or equivalent in position on the front wheel spindle.
Turn forcing screw clockwise until ball joint is seated.
jack up the the side with the broken ball joint under the control arm. Remove the axle nut (4x4) remove the caliper and the rotor. remove the outer tie rod from the knuckle. Remove the upper and lower control arm nuts and remove knuckle from vehicle.
Using a ball joint press remove and install the ball joint.
tighten axle nut (4x4 only) to 133 lb-ft after everything is assembled.
For That you use a C-clamp style ball joint press to remove the ball joint from the suspension arm-note the location of the receiver cup ! For installation of the ball-joint, use the same tool when pressing the ball joint into the suspension arm-again, note the location of the receiver cup.
Step by Step :
Raise and support the vehicle safely, with jackstands.
Remove the spindle and the ball joint assembly from the vehicle.
Remove the snapring from the ball joint. Using a ball joint removal tool, remove the ball joint from the spindle. Do not heat the ball joint or the axle to aid in removal.
Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Torque the ball joint stud nut to 85-110 ft. lbs. for 1983-89 Ranger and Bronco II.
Removal & Installation
NOTE
This procedure requires the use of the following special tools: J 9519-E Lower Ball Joint Remover and Installer, J 34874 Booster Seal Remover/Installer, J 41435 Ball Joint Installer, J 45105-1 Ball Joint Flaring Adapter and J 45105-2 Receiver.
On 4WD vehicles, remove the wheel center cap and drive axle nut.
Raise and support the vehicle.
Remove or disconnect the following:
Tire and wheel
Wheel hub and bearing, if necessary
Outer tie rod retaining nut
Out tie rod from the steering knuckle using a suitable puller
Brake hose bracket retaining bolts and bracket
Upper control arm-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt and nut
Upper control arm from the steering knuckle
Lower ball joint retaining nut
Steering knuckle from the lower control arm using a suitable ball joint removal tool
Steering knuckle from the vehicle
Lower ball joint flange with a chisel
Install tools J 9519-E and J 34874 to the lower ball joint, then use those tools to remove the lower ball joint from the lower control arm.
To install:
Install or connect the following:
Lower ball joint to the lower control arm, using tools J 9519-E, J 41435 and J 45105-2
Remove the tools from the lower control arm.
Tools J 9519-E and J 45105-1 to the lower ball joint
Flare the lower ball joint flange with J 9519-E and J 45105-1, then remove the tools from the lower ball joint.
Steering knuckle to the lower control arm
Lower ball joint retaining nut and tighten to 81 ft. lbs. (110 Nm)
Upper control arm to the steering knuckle
Upper control arm pinch bolt and nut and tighten to 30 ft. lbs. (41 Nm)
Brake hose bracket to the steering knuckle
Brake hose bracket retaining nuts and tighten to 7 ft. lbs. (10 Nm)
Outer tie rod to the steering knuckle
Outer tie rod retaining nut and tighten to 33 ft. lbs. (45 Nm)
Wheel hub and bearing, if removed
Tire and wheel
Lower the vehicle
Drive axle nut, if 4WD, and tighten to 103 ft. lbs. (140 Nm)
to remove the axles, remove brake caliper and disc, remove hub assembly, the center hub/axle nut and...(there are i think 3-4 bolts on the back side of the spindle to remove the hub), you may have to force the hub off the spindle with a hammer or air hammer... once the hub is out the axle should slide out of the front differential allowing access to the ball joint nuts for removal...
put a jack under the lower control arm. jack it up until the wheel is off the ground. remove the wheel,caliper,and rotor. then then remove the upper and lower ball joint cotter pins and castle nuts. take a ball joint fork and pop both upper and lower control arms loose and pull out the spindle.
Okay, more than likely you are going to need to take the upper and lower arms in to have the old joints pressed out and then pressed in. If you can buy the replacement joints and take them in, you will save a WHOLE lot of cash. You could also do this yourself if you have a hydraulic press or, if you can swing by an auto parts store that rents out tools......it looks like a modified c clamp.
That works fine on a relatively new vehicle but one that has run in salt etc you'll save a lot of time if you remove the steering knuckle completey by separating lower ball joint and outer tie rod end ball joint and bring the whole steering knuckle to a bench to separate the hub/bearing. Soak everything with penetrant, loosen the bolts a few turns and try hitting right on the bolt heads. I also made a very sharp wedge from a chisel and rammed it hard on the other side to seoarate the hub. It will finally come apart then you'll see all the **** that was binding it due to an alumininum knuckle re-acting with a steel hub. Clean the hole and grease everything and fit new bearings
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