2000 Intrigue RF Ball Joint Replacement
taz1458
12-27-2013, 01:27 PM
Could anyone give me a quick fly-by on how to do this? Any special tools that I should get?
gmtech1
12-27-2013, 06:22 PM
Could anyone give me a quick fly-by on how to do this? Any special tools that I should get?
Would be easiest to pull the control arms off and use a vise. Drill or grind off the rivet heads the punch them out. Will probably be a bit of a chore given the age. The replacement will come with bolts. Be sure to install them in the correct direction as stated in the instructions. Bolts in through the top and nuts on the bottom. Be sure to get the alignment checked after the repairs are done.
Would be easiest to pull the control arms off and use a vise. Drill or grind off the rivet heads the punch them out. Will probably be a bit of a chore given the age. The replacement will come with bolts. Be sure to install them in the correct direction as stated in the instructions. Bolts in through the top and nuts on the bottom. Be sure to get the alignment checked after the repairs are done.
Renegade2k
12-28-2014, 08:22 PM
I just did these and it is a PITA.
You have to be very careful in how you do it because the rivets will try to mushroom while being pushed out. Experienced mechanics can screw this up and will commonly just replace the whole control arm.
This can be done on the car, but may be wise to remove the control arm and put it in a vice.
Cut off the rivet head with a cutoff wheel or grinder.
Use an air hammer or hammer and punch to pound out the rivet.
If it doesn't want to go out the other side. STOP!
Excessive pounding will make the problem worse by mushrooming the rivet inside the control arm.
Cut off the other side and try to push through the other side.
If that doesn't work, put a chisel on the inside of the control arm to spread the control arm just enough to clear what is left of the rivets to pull out the ball joint.
Insert the new Ball joint and squeeze the control arm back together.
If you can't get it out, Amazon sells a economy Moog Control arm for pretty cheap.
You have to be very careful in how you do it because the rivets will try to mushroom while being pushed out. Experienced mechanics can screw this up and will commonly just replace the whole control arm.
This can be done on the car, but may be wise to remove the control arm and put it in a vice.
Cut off the rivet head with a cutoff wheel or grinder.
Use an air hammer or hammer and punch to pound out the rivet.
If it doesn't want to go out the other side. STOP!
Excessive pounding will make the problem worse by mushrooming the rivet inside the control arm.
Cut off the other side and try to push through the other side.
If that doesn't work, put a chisel on the inside of the control arm to spread the control arm just enough to clear what is left of the rivets to pull out the ball joint.
Insert the new Ball joint and squeeze the control arm back together.
If you can't get it out, Amazon sells a economy Moog Control arm for pretty cheap.
Steelwheel
05-27-2015, 07:36 PM
Honestly it's usually cheaper to just replace the control arm. They are fairly cheap online, and the effort to bust out the rivets can often not be worth it, and a mechanic might take an hour or two to do all that, so it ends up costing more anyway. Also, the control arm will have new bushings, which often wear out with the ball joint.
On mine, they were so rusted the mechanic said busting the rivets would probably mess up the arm itself...
On mine, they were so rusted the mechanic said busting the rivets would probably mess up the arm itself...
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