Removing the lower control arm on a 1988 Chevrolet 1500?

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mrlizard8

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OK heres the story, I was pulling into my driveway the other day and BAM, the lower control arm pops off the ball joint. Obviously I need to remove the ball joint and replace it, to do that I have remove the coil spring and the lower control arm. My question is what is the best way to do this. I had originally wanted to just use GM's tool specifically for this purpose (j-23028 I believe) but I can't find it anywhere. So I was planning on renting a spring compressor, and then compressing it until theres enough clearance, then unbolt the control arm and take it to a machine shop and get the new ball joint pressed in. Then to put it back on, reattach the lower control arm, attach the ball joint, then compress the spring enough to fit back into the spring pockets. My main concern is if the spring will compress enough to make it back into the narrower space once the control arm is reattached along with the ball joint. Any suggestions or better methods, or locations where I can find the aforementioned special tool are greatly appreciated, thanks
 
There's a reason hardly anyone sells this tool. No one uses it. If you want to replace the ball joint yourself, go down to Autozone and borrow a ball-joint press. Then use a floor jack under the control arm to raise that corner. Make sure you leave enough room to get to the ball joint from above and below. Remove the wheel, and check that there's no tension on the ball joint, and then disconnect it. Coat-hanger the upper control arm and knuckle up out of the way, and replace the BJ. Or, if you want to take the control arm off and have someone else do the BJ, just lower the floor jack so that the truck comes down on a jack stand placed under the frame rail, and the spring will be loose enough to pull out. You may have to pry it slightly. If you do it the first way, put a jack stand in the same place, just in case the jack lets go.

Make sure you take note of the positioning of the spring, and put it back in the same position, as far as the pigtail fitting in the pocket. Jack the control arm back up until you can re-attach the BJ, and put the rest (shock absorber, stabilizer bar etc., wheel) back together.

I've done this so often, I could do it in my sleep, but if it's your first time, you might want to pay attention. If you have an I.Q. over 80, it's really not that dangerous. If you have coil springs, I assume this is a 2WD (C or R-series), but there are still a couple styles. Here's a link that offers some diagrams and torque specs for these trucks;
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/08/7f/2f/0900823d80087f2f/repairInfoPages.htm

P.S. you shouldn't need an alignment just because you replaced a ball joint. If you take the control arm off just mark the position. If you leave it on, it's even more of a waste of money.
 
Very likely your going to have to do the other side too. Top ball joints and top inside bushings as well as lower inside bushings. That spring has over 1/4 the weight of the Truck on it and it has to be compressed and held while you try to bolt up the lower arm. I have with the aid of several screwdriver holding technicians been able coax that spring in as I am lifting up on the lower arm with a floor jack. But I do not recommend you to go out and try it. That spring if it gets away from you could cause serious damage to your head or fly as far as the neighbors yard. Really! Seek professional help get the entire front end rebuild done now and have a perfect alignment preformed all at the same time. You will be money and time ahead getting it all done. Plus you will still have all five fingers on each hand and a head to think with. Chevy truck springs with out proper tools can kill.
 
It's not necessary to remove the control arm for this. You can borrow a ball joint press from a place like Oreilly's or Autozone. It looks like a C-clamp and has adapters for removal and installation.

After the ball joint is installed, position the spring and the spring compressor. Place a floor jack right under the ball joint so the weight of the truck will assist you and tighten the spring compressor. The ball joint should go right into place.
 
Jack it up and put it on jack stands. Then remove the tire, brake mounting hardware, and spindle. Once done, use your trusty floor jack and ratchet/wrenches to lower the control arm and remove the spring by hand. It's not a strut, so it doesn't REQUIRE a special tool, just simple shop tools, common sense, and good safety procedures.

As for reassembly, do exactly what you do to remove it in reverse.

I've done this on quite a few vehicles, and the only semi specialized tool I used was an air hammer with a pickle fork attachment and a torch to heat and remove the old ball joint myself. Usually the whole thing is done in about an hour per side.

Good luck.
 
http://autorepair.about.com/.............this web site will give you step by step instructions...also auto zone will loan you the tools for free you give them a deposit and when you return the toll the refund youre money 100% good luck hope this helps
 
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