Rat-mobile

[wintonboy]

My 1990 Caravan has a clunk in the front end that I suspect is the lower ball joint. A shop quoted me $305 to replace them. The van is hardly worth it other than I love driving it as it fits my 245# just fine. Only the dog will ride in with me, the kids refuse to even come close. Rust isn't contagious is it? Anyway, the ball joints appear to be welded in! Is this normal? How do I get them out? My wife wants me to junk it, but I just can't seem to do that.

[wafrederick]

The ball joints are pressed in and you need a Ball joint press to get them out and in.If you intend to keep it for a couple years,go for the Moog which have the best lifetime warranty.If you intend to get rid of it later on,get the cheap ball joints and this is you decision to make.

[Spit]

I have a 97 GC and my Haynes manual says I should remove the lower control arms and have a Machine Shop press new ball joints in...Has anyone done this themselves...Control arms on or off the van. I have a Ball Join C-Clamp/press and I have pressed rear ball joints out and new ones back in on a 96 Pontica Bonnevile...wondering if I could do in on the GC.

Spit

[wafrederick]

You can do it with the control arm still in the vehicle using a ball joint press.Some places will rent you this tool.

[Spit]

I have a ball joint press (huge c clamp like gizmo with adaptors/recievers for pushing ball joints out an in) from Harbor Freight...is that what you're refering to? I used it for rear ball joints on a 96 Bonneville...worked great for that. I wasn't sure why Haynes would say to take the GC lower control arms off and take them to a Machine shop, if I could do it myself?

Spit

[wafrederick]

That is what I am talking about and you can do it yourself.Makeke the new ball joint is in straight and leave the grease fitting out when intalling the new one.Put the grease fitting in after the new ball joint is installed

[wintonboy]

Thanks for the info folks. The problem I have is the ball joints are welded in. I've never seen this before and am wondering if this is normal. Maybe I have to grind the welds off and re-tack the new ones.

[Alphabravo]

Originally Posted by wintonboy

Thanks for the info folks. The problem I have is the ball joints are welded in. I've never seen this before and am wondering if this is normal. Maybe I have to grind the welds off and re-tack the new ones.

Are you sure they're welded in and not just rust? It seems odd that they're welded in. If that's the case you'd probably have to get new lower control arms??

Actually you're right. I do remember my mechanic having a car with the ball joints welded on. I don't remember if it was a Caravan, but I do remember him using a cutting wheel to break the weld.

also, I don't think you have to re-tack the new ones. If I remember correctly they had a c-clip to hold them in place.