Ball joint? Cutlass sitting on the ground

[JohnS]

Thanks so much,I fixed it enough to get it home. I purchased the ball joint and rented the tool to remove and replace, The problem being I was working in the parking lot of the repair shop starting at 7 tonight. I got the old out and the new sorta in, I am so tired and frustrated I did not have the strength to seat the ball joint all the way but it was enough to get the car home.

The list of things I see wrong were the ball joint and the inner and outer tie rods. Sat I will try seat the ball joint again and replace the tie rods. Any tips for getting the ball joint seated??

The shocks and springs were replaced 2 or 3 years ago but I am going to invest in getting the rest of the front end done.

Thanks again
John

 

[pontiacgp]

you need to get it straight in, if it's on an angle best thing to do is remove it and install it again

 

[Pontiac455]

Tap the outer edge of the control arm with a hammer while the pressure from the press is on the ball joint and it will slip right in there. lol

 

[Bonnewagon]

Raise the lower control arm with a jack until the spindle ralaxes. That takes the spring pressure off the joint. DO NOT try and tighten the nut against the spring pressure to draw the shaft up into the spindle.

 

[Longroof79]

A similar incident happened to me once coming back from a cruise night. I actually got into my neighborhood when I heard the same type of "bang". The left front dropped. Fortunately I was only a few blocks from my house, when my neighbor was driving by coming home from test and tune with his Nova. He drove me home, I got my floor jack and he brought his can of assorted nuts and bolts. It turned out that one of the castelated nuts loosened and came off of the upper ball joint. I found a replacement nut in my neighbor's hardware collection, screwed in on, tightened it enough to drive it home.
I was going slow when it happened, but prior to that, I was doing about 50-55mph.
Well enough about me.

I agree that you should rebuild the front end for your peace of mind. I did exactly that after my incident. I bought the parts and did the labor myself...however, I did have a machine shop press in the lower ball joints and new control arm bushings.
Good luck.