LCA Ball Joint Removal

[smallxfires]

I have a 2005 Silverado, i am trying to replace a torn ball joint on the driver side lower control arm (going into the spindle), it looks to be riveted in. i used a grinder to get the head off and have tried drilling and using a air hammer to pound out what is left, and it is not making a dent, i already have the new bolt on ball joint, just having a hard time getting this one out. anyone have any insight from doing this before?

thanks

tom

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by smallxfires

I have a 2005 Silverado, i am trying to replace a torn ball joint on the driver side lower control arm (going into the spindle), it looks to be riveted in. i used a grinder to get the head off and have tried drilling and using a air hammer to pound out what is left, and it is not making a dent, i already have the new bolt on ball joint, just having a hard time getting this one out. anyone have any insight from doing this before?

thanks

tom

these are hard to remove ...need a heavy hammer..with the big hammer it will pop out.

[MikeD266]

Ball joint press rental from a big box parts store may help. Just did upper and lower on my '99 a few months ago using a manual press.

[smallxfires]

Originally Posted by MikeD266

Ball joint press rental from a big box parts store may help. Just did upper and lower on my '99 a few months ago using a manual press.

forgive me for being ignorant, i have the new bolt in type, it seems that i need to actually get the rivets out...would the press help this?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by smallxfires

forgive me for being ignorant, i have the new bolt in type, it seems that i need to actually get the rivets out...would the press help this?

yes the rivets need removal. use a hammer with a round head punch tool and drive out the metal rivet remains..then use the hardware fasteners supplied to install the new part..

also make sure you torque all fasteners at the proper torque..

[MikeD266]

My bad sxf... That's what I get for driving a 10 yr old truck I guess... LOL... And here I thought that my brother's Dodge bolt-ins would be easier than mine. Suddenly I'm not so excited about replacing his....

[Jeremy-WI]

My 96 gave me fits, so I used a 3/16 drill bit after cutting the heads off to drill most of what was left of the rivet out, the remaining portion of the rivet was easy to remove except for 1 rivet where I finished it with a 1/4 drill bit