Replacing BALL JOINT 96 Buick. Which TOOLS NEEDED?

[alkemist]

Greetings,

I am willing to attempt to replace ball joint of my 96 Riviera on my driveway if it is possible to do it. Perhaps it could be replaced by tiping to car to a side with the same jack used to change a tire?


Qs

-Is this a good idea?
-Whats tools required?
-Will the vehicle be stable enough for this replacement?




Thank you.

[alkemist]

Below, is a link to a PHOTO of what needs to be replaced.



[img=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/domestic/images/moog/moog_ball_joint.jpg]CLICK FOR IMAGE[/img]

[TheSilentChamber]

If they are the bolt in type you shouldnt have any problems. If they are pressed in you will need to remove the control arm, take it to a shop and have it pressed out and have the new one pressed in. I'm thinking that its pressed in, I have a 96 regal and I'm pretty sure they are pressed in.

[alkemist]

thank you

[zagrot]

i am somewaht concerned about the idea of only having a spare tire jack supporting a vehicle during maintenance. you would do well to find something solid to set the car on while wrenching on it, or buy a set of jack stands as they cost less than a trip to the emergency room. in the past when i was in a pinch i have use the tire, laying on its side, with the spare stacked on top of it and slid under the edge of the car as a buffer incase the jack should collapse the car would not make it all of the way to the ground (with parts of me trapped under it). i'd rather sacrifice a rim and save an extremity; spare tire jacks are not the most sturdy things in the world.

[TheSilentChamber]

Yeah I'm with zagrot on the jack, I missed that part when reading your first post.