Ball Joint connecting lower control arm and spindle 99 Grand Prix

According to Autozone.com, you must replace the whole control arm. Here is their procedure:
NOTE do not begin the removal procedure unless a new strut-to-lower arm nut, a new ball joint pinch bolt/nut and a new lower arm-to-front subframe bolt/nut are available.

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
   NOTE
   Do not use a hammer to separate the ball joint from the front wheel hub and spindle.
   
   
   
   WheelsLower arm strut nut and dished washer. Discard them.
   
2. Place the steering wheel in the unlocked position.
   NOTE
   Do not allow the halfshaft to move outward. Over-extension of the halfshaft joint could result in separation of internal parts, causing failure of the halfshaft joint.
   
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   NOTE
   Use extreme care to not damage the ball joint boot seal.
   
   
   
   Lower arm ball joint nut and pinch bolt. Discard them.Lower arm from the front wheel knuckle
   
   
   
   Remove and discard the lower arm-to-front subframe bolt and nutRemove the lower arm from the vehicleTo install:
   
   1. Install or connect the following:
      
      Lower arm strut into the lower arm rear strut bushingLower arm into the front sub-frame bracketNew lower arm-to-front subframe nut and bolt. While holding the lower arm horizontal, tighten to 85-97 ft. lbs. (115-132 Nm).Ball joint stud-to-wheel hub and spindle, making sure that the ball stud groove is properly positioned.New lower arm ball joint pinch bolt and nut. Tighten to 46-52 ft. lbs. 62-71 Nm).
   2. Clean the lower arm strut threads to remove dirt and contamination.
   3. Install the dished washer with the dished side away from the lower arm rear strut bushing.
   4. Install the front suspension lower arm strut-to-strut nut and tighten to 85-97 ft. lbs. (115-142 Nm).
   5. Install the wheels.
   6. Lower the vehicle.

Lower Control Arm

Print
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

1. Raise the vehicle and suitably support by the frame allowing the control arms to hang free.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the steering gear outer tie rod from the steering knuckle.
4. Remove the stabilizer shaft link from the control arm.
5. Remove the front drive axle shaft nut and washer.
6. Use a suitable front hub spindle removal tool to Push the axle splines back out of the front wheel drive shaft bearing.
7. 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.

1. Place a modified inner drive joint seal protector on the drive axle joints.
2. If equipped, remove the ABS wheel speed sensor jumper harness.
3. Remove and discard the cotter pin, then loosen the nut from the ball stud.
4. Remove the pinch bolt and the control arm mounting bolts, then remove the control arm from the vehicle.

Here's what I found on Yahoo answers:
For the driver's side: yes, you will have to raise the motor.
On all models, remove the front motor mount, Mark the position of the right engine mount, remove 3 right engine to mount bolts. remove one right engine mount to body nut. On all models hold the strut shaft with an 8 mm allen wrench, loosen top retaining nut 5 turns. Raise vehicle, remove ball joint to steering knuckle pinch bolt. seperate control arm ball joints from steering knuckle. Do NOT damage ball joint seal. Remove pinch bolt attaching steering knuckle to strut. Slide steering knuckle up on strut, Move transaxle to gain access to control arm nuts and bolts. remove 2 nuts and bolts and attaching control arm to subframe. Lifting up control arm remove.
Now this to mark the motor mount because you are supposed to use a powertrain alignment guage when putting back together. if not you can bind the motor in the unibody and make for a shaky ride.
that drivers side lower control arm calls for 4.3 hours where as the passenger side calls for 1.3 hours. So you can see what your in for.
BTW these instructions are taken straight from the Ford repair manual.

Source(s):

http://mysite.verizon.net/t2bedlam/fr.jp...

Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Removal Procedure Tools Required J 43828 Ball Joint Separator

1. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the stabilizer shaft link. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
4. Remove the wiring harness from the lower control arm.




5. Remove the cotter pin (1) from the ball joint (3).
6. Remove the nut (4) from the ball joint (3).



Notice: Use only the recommended tools for separating the ball joint from the knuckle. Failure to use the recommended tools may cause damage to the ball joint and seal.

7. Remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle using the J 43828 .




8. Remove the lower control arm front (1) and rear (4) mounting bolts.
9. Remove the lower control arm (1) from the vehicle and place in a vice.
10. Drill out the 3 rivets (3) retaining the ball joint to the lower control arm (2).
Use a 3 mm (1/8 in) drill bit in order to make a pilot hole through the rivets.
Finish drilling the rivets with a 13 mm (½ in) drill bit.

11. Remove the ball joint (4) from the control arm (2).

Installation Procedure

1. Install the ball joint (4) into the control arm (2).
2. Install the 3 ball joint bolts (3) and the nuts (1). Follow the instructions in the ball joint kit. Tighten the ball joint bolts (3) according to the specifications in the instructions.




3. Install the lower control arm (2) to the front suspension support (1)
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

4. Install the lower control arm front (5) and rear (4) mounting bolts.
Tighten • Tighten the front bolt to 107 N·m (79 lb ft). • Tighten the rear bolt to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).



5. Install the lower ball joint stud (3) to the steering knuckle (2).
6. Install the ball joint stud (3) through the steering knuckle (2).
7. Install the ball joint nut (4).
Tighten
Tighten the ball joint nut to 55 N·m (41 lb ft) plus 180 degree rotation minimum-65 N·m (50 lb ft) plus 180 degree rotation maximum to install the cotter pin.

8. Install the wiring harness to the lower control arm.
9. Install the cotter pin (1).
10. Install the stabilizer link to the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
11. Install the tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
12. Inspect the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.

Remove the brake caliper by removing the two bolts that connect it to the steering knuckle. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin and retaining nut. Pry the steering knuckle up and away from the lower ball joint. Unscrew the grease fitting from the bottom of the lower control arm. Press the lower ball joint out of the control arm using a ball joint remover set.
Press the lower ball joint into the control arm using a ball joint installation tool. Remove the block of wood supporting the upper control arm. Install a new cotter pin through the ball joint stud.Install the grease fitting on the bottom of the ball joint. Use a c-clamp to push the piston back into the brake caliper. Reinstall the wheel assembly. Here you can find the quality parts http://www.buyautoparts.com/steering_system.htm

Most front ends are set up basically the same way.First raise and support your front end and remove the tire.Both the upper and lower should look about the same.If you look at the control arm you will have an upper and lower ball joint and a tie rod end bolted to the steering knuckle.Remove the bolt on the tie rod end and use a ball joint separate to remove the tie rod end.Then remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle with your separator.Depending on which control arm it is if its the upper you will also have to remove the brake hose out of the way to remove the upper control arm.Once that's done you will see 2 bolts that hold the control arms to the frame remove these bolts and your control arm will come off,You might have to pry them a little bit to get them out.You also want to have something handy to block up your steering knuckle until your ready to put it back together.It wouldn't hurt to have a piece of wire just in case you need to tie something in place.And be sure you grease everything with a high pressure grease.

Hi.




1. Raise and support vehicle.
2. Remove tire and wheel assembly, then install modified outer seal protector No. J34754, or equivalent, Fig.3 .
3. Remove lower ball joint cotter pin and nut, then loosen ball joint from steering knuckle using tool No. J-29330, or equivalent.
4. Position a suitable pry bar between suspension support and lower control arm and separate lower ball joint from steering knuckle. On some models, it may be necessary to remove nut attaching link to stabilizer shaft.
5. Locate center of rivet body and mark with a center punch.
6. Using a 1/8 inch drill, drill pilot holes completely through rivets. Using a 1/2 inch drill, drill final holes through rivets to ensure fitting of new ball joint.
7. Remove ball joint from lower control arm.
8. Assemble new ball joint to lower control arm with bolts provided in service package, Fig.9 . Tighten bolts to specifications.
9. Insert ball joint stud into steering knuckle and tighten nut to specifications, then install cotter pin.
10. Install wheel and tire and check front wheel alignment.

I hope this helps you.

Thanks.

Have someone use a big prybar between the a-frame and the car frame while you smack the side of the ball joint with a hammer. This always works for me.

Hope this helps and please don't forget to rate! Thank you!



Front ball joint with heat shield

Remove and Replace-

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle with jackstands.
   
3. Remove the front wheel and tire assembly.
   
4. Unfasten the retaining bolts, then remove the ball joint heat shield.
   
5. Remove and discard the lower ball joint cotter pin.
   
6. Remove the ball joint nut.
   
7. Loosen, but do NOT remove, the stabilizer shaft bushing assembly bolts.
   
8. Separate the ball joint from the strut/knuckle assembly using ball joint/tie rod puller J-35917 or equivalent.
   

Do NOT damage the halfshaft boots when drilling out the ball joint rivets.

1. Drill out the rivets retaining the ball joint to the knuckle strut assembly and remove the ball joint from the knuckle. Use a 1/8 in. drill bit. Refer to the instructions in the ball joint replacement kit.
   

To install:

1. Position the lower ball joint in the strut/knuckle assembly.
   
2. Install the four ball joint bolts and nuts, as shown in the ball joint kit and tighten to specifications.
   
3. Install the ball joint-to-lower control arm. Install a new ball joint-to-lower control arm nut.
   
4. Tighten the stabilizer shaft bolts to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
   
5. For 1988-91 vehicles, tighten the ball joint-to-lower control arm nut 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm) plus at least an additional 90° (11/2flats), plus enough to align the cotter pin hole. Do NOT overtighten.
   
6. For 1992-96 vehicles, tighten the lower ball joint nut to 63 ft. lbs. (85 Nm). Tighten to align the next slot in the nut with the cotter pin hole in the stud. Do NOT tighten more than 60° (1 flat) to align with the hole.
   
7. Install a new cotter pin.
   
8. Position the ball joint heat shield and secure with the retaining bolts. Tighten to 62 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
   
9. Install the front wheel and tire assembly, then carefully lower the vehicle.
   
10. Connect the negative battery cable and check for proper suspension operation
    

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.

1. On 4WD vehicles, remove the wheel center cap and drive axle nut.
   
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
   
3. 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
     
4. 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:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   • Lower ball joint to the lower control arm, using tools J 9519-E, J 41435 and J 45105-2
     
2. Remove the tools from the lower control arm.
   
   • Tools J 9519-E and J 45105-1 to the lower ball joint
     
3. 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
     
4. Lower the vehicle
   
   • Drive axle nut, if 4WD, and tighten to 103 ft. lbs. (140 Nm)
     
   • Wheel center cap, if removed
     
5. Check the front wheel alignment.