|
|
Veteran
Posts: 291
 
Location: Rochester, NY | Noticed inner tread tire wear on my 58 Belvedere so I looked underneath front end and found bad upper right ball joint. I’ve never installed one. Would like to replace it while car is not being used over winter. Any advice? Which to get…have looked on line…eBay…only need one. Looks like I’m tempted to get all 4 as they’re much cheaper that way. Any advice there? Just because one fails does it mean others are likely to fail now too? Special tools needed? Instructions…not get hurt? Seems to me the torsion bar will want to let loose once I disconnect right? Thanks… |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9653
  
Location: So. Cal | I only replace them when they go bad. They generally only go bad because they don't get proper lubrication or their boots are shot, so if you maintain your old ones, they can last a long time still. You don't have to mess with the torsion bar. Just lift the car, remove the wheel and relax it down as far as it will go. It will let loose when it lets go of the spindle, but it doesn't have far to go, so there's no issue. You can use a floor jack to lift it back into place when you are done.
If you remove the arm to replace the upper bushings at the same time, pay attention to the number of shims under the arm mount to put them back in the same place afterward. You can use air to remove the ball joint, but do not use air to install it or you will destroy the fine threads in the control arm. It's best to remove the ball joint with the arm still attached to the car, and use a long extension on your breaker bar to give you more torque. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 6498
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | Uses a special socket also. 1-59/64ths'' I believe: https://www.autotoolworld.com/Sunex-10213-1-5964-Inch-Ball-Joint-Soc... |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 6498
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=46995
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 6498
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | https://59plymouth.net/59test/viewtopic.php?p=19121 |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 6498
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=45355&... |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 291
Location: Rochester, NY | Thanks guys…very helpful information. I appreciate it. Will do my best to follow up and let y’all know how I made out. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7393
Location: northern germany | Only replace the worn one. Upper ball joints on these cars I almost call them a non wear part, as they seem to last forever. Lowers wear faster but if properly services they last a very long time. Usually the live of the car, back in the day. But if these still have the OE UFO shaped seals, replace them with new Poly seals, that fit around the ball joint body firmly.
Edited by 1960fury 2022-12-05 7:20 PM
|
|
| |
Installing an upper Ballpoint
