86 Monte Carlo Upper Control Arm- Front Driver Side

[Papa_Wheelie]

I have the replacement Upper Control Arm with the Ball Joint included..Please help, I have run into 2 problems:

1) I can't get the pivot shaft loose from the frame bolts on the Upper Control Arm to break it free..Looking at the new one, I see that the shaft doesn't have threads in the holes, so it can't be bolted in. I've tried to bang/ pry it loose..Any suggestions?

2) The old Ball Joint is stuck, is there any way to get it out without using the Ball Joint removal tool?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[81Regal]

1) Loosen the nut at the ball joint and seperate from the spindle. Then remove the 2 nuts above the frame that hold the A arn in place then it will slide towards the engine usually with some force.
2) The upper ball joints are rivited in from the factory,grind the rivits off and the replacements bolt in.

 

[Papa_Wheelie]

OK, thanks..That kind of helps..The ball joint was broken from driving, so it just has the bolt and nut attached to the spindle, with the part of the joint that looks like a ball pin hammer sticking up..You see, that tore loose from the housing on the Upper Control Arm..I already have that housing removed..The rivets were gone, and the Ball Joint was previously replaced with one that was held in with bolts and nuts.

It seems like it's going to take a great deal of force to move that Upper Control Arm shaft towards the engine, and I'm pretty sure the frame bolts are stuck. Any pointers on what I could use to move it?

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I just pulled the exact same thing off my car a couple of days ago. After I separated the ball joint from the spindle, it's just those two nuts & bolts that go through the cross shaft that holds the control arm. After loosening those it slid right off.

If you have a ton of corrosion, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to wire brush them off and soak them in PB blaster or liquid wrench for awhile. Otherwise I thought it was relatively easy.

 

[Papa_Wheelie]

Thanks, G-Body_Vet!

That's the exact same job I'm doing! Just to be clear, You loosened the bolts and nuts that were holding the cross member to the frame, right? Cuz, I've only loosened the nuts and the bolts seem to be corrodid.

Also, did You eventually take out the Ball Joint?

 

[RockSS]

The bolts are have a knurl on the end (where the hex is) and are slightly pressed in, so you wont be loosening the bolts. You can ofcourse but then when you put it all back together it takes 2 to tighten the nuts. Try spraying with penatrating oil and let sit the use a pry bar to break loose the control arm, you can always use heat too.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Thanks, G-Body_Vet!

That's the exact same job I'm doing! Just to be clear, You loosened the bolts and nuts that were holding the cross member to the frame, right? Cuz, I've only loosened the nuts and the bolts seem to be corrodid.

Also, did You eventually take out the Ball Joint?

The nuts came off with a breaker bar fairly easily and I left the bolts in. As for removing the ball-joint goes, the factory installed them with 4 solid rivets. There's a number of ways to get them out. I find it easiest to drill through them and then shear the tops of with an air chisel. It takes 5 mins or less that way. You can also grind the heads off. Just depends on what tools you have at your disposal.

 

[Papa_Wheelie]

OK, I really appreciate the tips, guys!

However, I ran into another problem..Even if I am able to pry the cross bar loose (still haven't after 2 days of yanking and hammering) how am I going to get it past the steering column? There is only like 1 inch of clearance, and the bar is too thick to fit through.

 

[Papa_Wheelie]

The bolts are have a knurl on the end (where the hex is) and are slightly pressed in, so you wont be loosening the bolts. You can ofcourse but then when you put it all back together it takes 2 to tighten the nuts. Try spraying with penatrating oil and let sit the use a pry bar to break loose the control arm, you can always use heat too.

What to do if one of the bolts gets stripped, or bent? That was a bad factory move, I'd say..All it needs to be held in place is a 1/2 in nut and bolt..

 

[Papa_Wheelie]

Here is my damaged Upper Control Arm.

Here is my Ball Joint, out of its housing. (I got this out using a Ball Joint compression tool.)

This is how much space I have to fit the shaft thru.

http://img22.imagehaven.net/img.php?id= ... ol_arm.jpg
http://img44.imagehaven.net/img.php?id= ... _joint.jpg
http://img44.imagehaven.net/img.php?id= ... arance.jpg
http://img25.imagehaven.net/img.php?id= ... ance_2.jpg
http://img45.imagehaven.net/img.php?id= ... ance_3.jpg

Any suggestions? I have a suggestion for You: Household bleach will dissolve rust and other corrosion, and wash it away from the metal surface!