Shot Ball Joint Seals... - Page 2 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

ZR1Vette · 03-12-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tf95ZR1

So its easier or less expensive to just replace the entire control arm?

Absolutely...particularly the prices that Corvette Recycling sells the control arms for PLUS the OEM ball joint assembly is riveted onto the arm so to replace just the ball joint assembly you need to grind the rivet heads off and the replacement ball joints use nut & bolts to secureâ€¦no where cleaner looking. Replacing the upper control arm is not difficult at all as long as you have a lift or way to get car off its wheels and then a jack to move (compress) the suspension.

If anyone wants to just replace the ball joint I have a new one (yes with nut and bolt fastners) you can have for free...glad to send to you

http://www.corvetterecycling.com/shoppingcart.asp

Scrrem · 03-12-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR1Vette

Absolutely...particularly the prices that Corvette Recycling sells the control arms for PLUS the OEM ball joint assembly is riveted onto the arm so to replace just the ball joint assembly you need to grind the rivet heads off and the replacement ball joints use nut & bolts to secureâ€¦no where cleaner looking. Replacing the upper control arm is not difficult at all as long as you have a lift or way to get car off its wheels and then a jack to move (compress) the suspension.

Yeah and don't you need a Ball Joint press to get them out?

Once you replace the arms, I assume you have to have the front end aligned?

ZR1Vette · 03-12-2009

Anytime I do any suspension work I always assume a alignment is needed. Even if I just replaced the ball joint alone I would have the alignment checked.

tomtom72 · 03-13-2009

The press is needed to get the old ones out and put the new one in, but some parts stores rent that press. I personally, would rather a good machine shop do that stuff for me, along with the cross shaft bushings, as getting that stuff out can be a bit of a pia as well. If you have a fair torch and shop air doing it your self is a bit easier, an arbor press would be sweet also.

That's why when I saw the arms as a set at C-recycling for $400.00 + shipping I just ordered them. Looked to be the cheatin' easy way out for my $..

JMHO

Tom

Oh, the lower arms come complete with the stablizer bar end link mount bushing installed too!

ZR1Vette · 03-13-2009

That's why when I saw the arms as a set at C-recycling for $400.00

Tom..
By 'set' do you mean one side upper and lower control arms or both side upper and lower control arms or just the upper control arms for both sides? Reason I ask is that the upper control arms thru Corvette Recycling are $120 each for a total of $240??
Michael

tomtom72 · 03-13-2009

Mike, here's the link to the page on C-recycling's site. It's the 12th item down the page, just after the rear knuckle(?).

http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/23.htm

Yes it was all four wish bones @ $399.99 + shipping. Or you can get individual arms @ $120.00 ea.

When I got my car all the bags on the studs were "exploded" at their bases. I figured that they had been over greased, at first I had thought..."what dumb a$$ tried to grease them with the car sitting on the wheels!"...but ya can't get the grease gun on the B/J zerks with the wheels on the car, well easily anyway. They, whom ever "they" were also did the same to my outter tie-rods...

For my situation, the full set was an easy way out of the situation, and I thought a cheap way out with good parts. I've read quite a few bad stories over at the C4 sections @ CF where people were having trouble getting quality replacement B/J's to rebuild their arms. These stories made me very apprehensive about the parts quality issues and since I was part of the C4 slave /master cylinders' debacale....I was doubly fearful of bad Q/C on parts. Another consideration for me was the fact that either I start working in the street or the stuff better be good quality parts the first time round. No leaving the car "up & apart" while I sorted out the parts quality issues with "do over's".

I hate to say that when I was actively doing my own work on my 72, parts quality was the last thing that I ever worried about. Good quality parts, in the late 60's & 70's, were there as long as you were willing to pay the freight. You could always rely on certain mfg's to be pricey, but deliver quality. When i saw the recall that Moog had on C4 B/J's I was stunned, but it tied into some of the stories I had seen at CF.

sory to sooo long winded!

Tom

03-12-2009	#13
ZR1Vette Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 939	Re: Shot Ball Joint Seals... Anytime I do any suspension work I always assume a alignment is needed. Even if I just replaced the ball joint alone I would have the alignment checked. __________________ Michael :cheers: [I][SIZE="2"]1990 RED on RED #566[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE="2"]WAZOO MEMBER[/I][/SIZE]

03-13-2009	#14
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Shot Ball Joint Seals... The press is needed to get the old ones out and put the new one in, but some parts stores rent that press. I personally, would rather a good machine shop do that stuff for me, along with the cross shaft bushings, as getting that stuff out can be a bit of a pia as well. If you have a fair torch and shop air doing it your self is a bit easier, an arbor press would be sweet also. That's why when I saw the arms as a set at C-recycling for $400.00 + shipping I just ordered them. Looked to be the cheatin' easy way out for my $.. JMHO Tom Oh, the lower arms come complete with the stablizer bar end link mount bushing installed too! __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

03-13-2009	#15
ZR1Vette Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Reston, Virginia Posts: 939	Re: Shot Ball Joint Seals... That's why when I saw the arms as a set at C-recycling for $400.00 Tom.. By 'set' do you mean one side upper and lower control arms or both side upper and lower control arms or just the upper control arms for both sides? Reason I ask is that the upper control arms thru Corvette Recycling are $120 each for a total of $240?? Michael __________________ Michael :cheers: [I][SIZE="2"]1990 RED on RED #566[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE="2"]WAZOO MEMBER[/I][/SIZE]

03-13-2009	#16
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Shot Ball Joint Seals... Mike, here's the link to the page on C-recycling's site. It's the 12th item down the page, just after the rear knuckle(?). http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/23.htm Yes it was all four wish bones @ $399.99 + shipping. Or you can get individual arms @ $120.00 ea. When I got my car all the bags on the studs were "exploded" at their bases. I figured that they had been over greased, at first I had thought..."what dumb a$$ tried to grease them with the car sitting on the wheels!"...but ya can't get the grease gun on the B/J zerks with the wheels on the car, well easily anyway. They, whom ever "they" were also did the same to my outter tie-rods... For my situation, the full set was an easy way out of the situation, and I thought a cheap way out with good parts. I've read quite a few bad stories over at the C4 sections @ CF where people were having trouble getting quality replacement B/J's to rebuild their arms. These stories made me very apprehensive about the parts quality issues and since I was part of the C4 slave /master cylinders' debacale....I was doubly fearful of bad Q/C on parts. Another consideration for me was the fact that either I start working in the street or the stuff better be good quality parts the first time round. No leaving the car "up & apart" while I sorted out the parts quality issues with "do over's". I hate to say that when I was actively doing my own work on my 72, parts quality was the last thing that I ever worried about. Good quality parts, in the late 60's & 70's, were there as long as you were willing to pay the freight. You could always rely on certain mfg's to be pricey, but deliver quality. When i saw the recall that Moog had on C4 B/J's I was stunned, but it tied into some of the stories I had seen at CF. sory to sooo long winded! Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member