Ball Joint question....

Ok, on my 1990 Riv, I noticed that the drivers side ball joint has about 2mm of play in it. I know it needs replaced. I have never replaced ball joints in my life so, this is all new to me. So, my question is this.. Do I need to compress the spring to replace the ball joint? If so, Is there a cheap alternative to buying or renting one of those compressor tools? Thank you in advance for the help!

I think you need the factory manual, or the Haynes for a similar GM front end.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

I think you need the factory manual, or the Haynes for a similar GM front end.

Albertj

Yeah, I may go and pick one up today sometime. I need to get this done because since I learned that I needed new ball joints, I havent driven her. Im just tired of borrowing my neighbor's Focus. Its good on gas but Im not a Ford guy. Ha ha ha! Thanks for the input albertj!

You shouldn't need to compress the spring to do the ball joint, struts are self-contained. The lower ball joint is actually pretty easy (IMO) as long as you have a ball joint press. (Giant heavy duty c-clamp with different sized cups, rent one if you don't have one).

What I don't remember is if the original ball joints on the '90 are riveted in place like on the '95-99. I also don't know if there's a Haynes for the Riviera/Toronado.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

What I don't remember is if the original ball joints on the '90 are riveted in place like on the '95-99. I also don't know if there's a Haynes for the Riviera/Toronado.

Albertj

Well, the ball joints I purchased came on a plate. The plate has 3 bolt holes and the ball joint pre-pressed on it. I will have to look up a pic of them and post it on here so, it can be used as a reference.

Here is the picture of the ball joint. If this helps.

Check and see if the ones on your car are riveted as opposed to bolted.
If they are original they are most probably riveted and you will have to chisel, grind or burn the old rivets off before removing the ball joint.
If they have been replaced once before, then they will be bolted in like the replacement ones you got and will be much easier to replace.

Badly worn ball joints can be very dangerous.
My Maverick handled like an Indy Sprint Car(very dangerous) before I changed them out. Hope u have better luck than I did. Looks totally different than my old style ford, so it should b easier!

The replacements are bolt on; as RickW said if they have not been replaced before you will have to grind or drill out those rivets.

Any tips for how to grind them off, Rick? I've not done that before. Will a Dremel with a cutoff wheel work? I have used one to take out smaller rivets no problem but for these I am guessing regular size edge grinder with a silicon carbide-coated or such wheel and you end up cutting into the plate on the old ball joints.

Please comment and thanks!

Albertj

dscott2000 wrote:

albertj wrote:

What I don't remember is if the original ball joints on the '90 are riveted in place like on the '95-99. I also don't know if there's a Haynes for the Riviera/Toronado.

Albertj

Well, the ball joints I purchased came on a plate. The plate has 3 bolt holes and the ball joint pre-pressed on it. I will have to look up a pic of them and post it on here so, it can be used as a reference.

I did all the suspension links on my '97 not too long ago. I got too pissed with trying to get the rivits ground off and just ordered a used control arm from Morad. What I used to grind through the rivits was a drill bit and alot of WD-40. Use a high power drill and start in the center of the rivit head. When you get deep enough into it you can just snap the head off.

Rickw wrote:

Check and see if the ones on your car are riveted as opposed to bolted.
If they are original they are most probably riveted and you will have to chisel, grind or burn the old rivets off before removing the ball joint.
If they have been replaced once before, then they will be bolted in like the replacement ones you got and will be much easier to replace.

I guess mine have been changed before. Simply because, they are bolted in. I wouldnt doubt it though, My car has almost 190,000 miles on it. And, the roads around here arent the best in the world. Ya know, pot hole here, sinkhole there, and dont forget the occasional steel plate here and there! Ha Ha!

curious riv wrote:

Badly worn ball joints can be very dangerous.
My Maverick handled like an Indy Sprint Car(very dangerous) before I changed them out. Hope u have better luck than I did. Looks totally different than my old style ford, so it should b easier!

I hear ya there. These ball joints are unlike any I have seen. My dad had a 68 F-100 and he had to do the ball joints on it. Myself I didnt stick around to see how the dang things were changed. Simply put, my dad has a temper when it comes to suspension work in a vehicle. I just didnt wanna be around it.

Scott,
Haynes has a manual that will cover your car... "Haynes Repair Manual for Buick, Olds, Pontiac Full-Size Models, 1985 thru 2005 Front-wheel Drive". I bought mine for my '92 Riv at my local Advance Auto Parts store. Chapter 10 instructs on how to replace ball joints (with pic's!!).

Ship wrote:

Scott,
Haynes has a manual that will cover your car... "Haynes Repair Manual for Buick, Olds, Pontiac Full-Size Models, 1985 thru 2005 Front-wheel Drive". I bought mine for my '92 Riv at my local Advance Auto Parts store. Chapter 10 instructs on how to replace ball joints (with pic's!!).

I wonder if the one I bought for my Bonneville would work. I think that particular book covers that.. Not too sure though.

Well everyone, The ball joints are done! I had one snag and had to put new CV joints in since the old ones literally exploded on me when I went to remove the spindle from the wheel bearing. Easy work! Hard on the wallet though! HA HA HA! Thanks for all the help and advice!

Congrats! Glad it came out alright.

Thanks! It was pretty easy considering that the car was on jackstands for about a week before I could afford to do anything to it. But, now that its done. It drives like a brand new Riv!