Ok, so I am in the disassemble stage of my current project of complete front end suspension replacement. I bought a complete kit from PST plus springs , shocks, center link etc. So, upper ball joints. I assume to remove the ring has to come off, the welds need to be broken and they can be pressed out. Anyone out there with experience I would appreciate your comments. Thanks, Michael
I've done a lot of ball joints when I worked in a PA inspection station but never saw anything like that. Sure looks like you'll be gutting those welds. I wonder if that's factory? Chiltons manual says nothing about welds.
Technically, the upper ball joint is not replaceable according to Buick. The whole arm gets replaced as an assembly. They do however make replacement ball joints these days. They screw in. Honestly, Im not sure if that's an original or a replacement. My replacements look like that. Are they uppers actually bad?
I can tell you my 68 wildcat has no welds like that but otherwise looks the same....I just finished cleaning and painting mine so I'm sure. There are no welds and I can see that one has certainly been replaced.
I'm pretty sure this is all original stuff, the ball joint itself is pretty tight with no play so maybe I shouldn't mess with it?
I would not touch it! I just pressed in fresh bushings and replaced the damaged rubber grease cup after I cleaned out all the old grease. I painted with chassis saver black satin paint.... and sadly the new ball joint might not last as long as the original.
Those look to be aftermarket. I have a set of A arms off the car and 2 sets on. I'll get pics later and post today. The welds do have to be cut off to remove those.
The originals are welded in and its recommended to tack the new ones in. Without the weld, the only thing holding them in is the big nut on the bottom.
The first pic is the top of my parts car. the second and third are of a spare upper I had in the shop. I think all of them are tacked
Thanks for the pix- I am still not sure if I am even going to change them now, they seem to be in pretty good shape, there is no play in them, although I do have a new set that came with the PST set. Decisions, decisions, decisions!
My 1970 Riviera original ball joints were pressed in. I could not find any. I bought caddy joints that have 4 bolts and I also welded them in.
