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Replacing lower ball joints on 97 Tahoe 4x4?
Need to replace the lower ball joints on my 97 Chev Tahoe 4x4. I see that they are a press in part. Is there some sort of tool that will allow this to be done on the car without removing the lower control arm? Since its a torsion bar spring I would assume to remove the arm you would also need a special tool.
2 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Yes, you leave the control arm on the truck. You need a ball joint press.
Take the caliper and rotor off, and loosen the nut on the ball joint a few turns so there is about a 1/4 gap between the bottom of the nut and the steering knuckle.
Whack the knuckle with a big hammer until the ball joint and knuckle separate.
Now take a floor jack and put it under the control arm near the ball joint and jack it up until the tension comes off of the nut and take the nut the rest of the way off.
You may want to pop the tie rod end out of the knuckle too so it will give more room to move it out of your way.
Use the ball joint press to press out the ball joint and also to install the new one.
When the new one is in, jack the control arm up so the top of the ball joint is tight into the knuckle. This will keep it from turning when you put the nut on.
If there is a cotter pin, make sure it gets replaced.
Source(s): mechanic - trucker460Lv 41 decade ago
most part stores have ball joint press.
you buy it and when your done you take it back and get a refund.
the coast is the rental price.
