Ok, so my I ordered all 4 ball joints a while ago and they just came in a couple days ago. Last night I went to press them in with a ball joint c-clamp press kit bit had a hell of a time. It seems like I dont have proper fittings to go on the bottom side of the ball joint and top side is difficult because of the shape of the control arm. When it started to go in it was on a bit of an angle. Im afraid I might damage something.

Can you guys help me out with any tricks or methods on how to install the new joints?

Thanks in advance

 

I would search here:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-16/

 

Oh, man. When i reworked my 94 a couple of years ago @ 130k miles I had the crossmember and LCAs sandblasted and installed new balljoints.

That job suuuuuuuuucked. I tried it myself using my press and then took it to a pro who had a hell of a time. I wasn't 100% happy with how the new parts went in. Didn't look all the way in or straight to me. The owner showed me how he couldn't use any more force or the LCA started to bend.

I was using Moog lower balljoints.

At the outset of the job I had to decide between buying brand new LCAs with bushings and balljoints already installed or rebuilding mine. Because of all the money i was spending on the engine overhaul I just could not come up with the $ for the new LCAs.

By the end of the hassle I wished I had just found a way to buy the new parts. Haven't had any trouble, though, getting the car aligned or driving it 6k miles later so i guess it's okay.

GM doesn't sell the LCA parts and I think there's a good reason for that.

 

i had a shop do mine. did not want to go there. the uppers dont wear as fast as the lower so only my lowers needed replaced.

 

I will most likely just take them into the shop to get pressed in, but has anyone reading this had any luck with the c-clamp presses or home / shop hydraulic press? Any input would be great, I would much rather do it myself if I can.

 

i thought i posted on this link last week i have a c clamp ball joint press i gonna assume you dont have the clearance on the bottom i used a socket out of my one inch drive kit on the bottom and a impact gun and that sucker went right in

 

Not quite sure what you mean. Did you use the socket as an adapter piece or to drive the c clamp?

 

As a adaptor on the bottom