Ball Joint replacement

[thomas g. warner]

Emory are you saying that they checked the ball joints when the coach was up
in the air with the hubs off?

>We have had several postings in the last month or so about the factory riveted
>ball joints being replaced with new ones with bolt mounts. I thought I'd
>share my experience. In December while on a trip, I had a reputable shop
>which works on GMCs service the front wheel bearings. When they were pulled
>the hubs, it was obvious that the lower ball joints on both sides were badly
>worn (75,000 miles). They were replaced with the proper MOOG sets. These
>come with a nut and lockwasher for the top stud and with 5/16" bolts for the
>sides. After about 2300 miles, when I got home, I decided to put on the 80mm
>brake calipers and found a bad boot so had to pull the knuckle to get to it.
>To my dismay I discovered that the nut on the top of the new passenger side
>lower ball joint was missing. The two lower bolts were loose and had enlarged
>the holes in the lower arm. I have taken the following steps: Used Red
>LocTite on the top stud in addition to the lock washer. Drilled out the two
>side bolts to take 5/16" fine thread (24 threads / inch) grade 8 bolts. Again
>I used LocTite and added lock nuts that wedge down on the bolt. Still being
>concerned about the bolts coming loose and dropping the joint, I tack welded
>the heads of the two bolts to the arm. If I ever have to take it apart I can
>loosen them with a metal chisel. I haven't taken it out on a trip yet.
>Anyone else have an experience like this? Any other suggestions?
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[ted schurman]

Sorry to be so late with this post, I was out of the country for 3
weeks.
Did you mean to say that you replaced the 5/16 bolts with 3/8 bolts ?
A later post seemed to say that.
BTW, for future reference, it is not necessary to remove the knuckle to
remove a drive shaft. The details are listed in the 01/98 issue of
GMCMH. It works.
Ted Schurman
73 Glacier VA

>
> We have had several postings in the last month or so about the factory riveted
> ball joints being replaced with new ones with bolt mounts. I thought I'd
> share my experience. In December while on a trip, I had a reputable shop
> which works on GMCs service the front wheel bearings. When they were pulled
> the hubs, it was obvious that the lower ball joints on both sides were badly
> worn (75,000 miles). They were replaced with the proper MOOG sets. These
> come with a nut and lockwasher for the top stud and with 5/16" bolts for the
> sides. After about 2300 miles, when I got home, I decided to put on the 80mm
> brake calipers and found a bad boot so had to pull the knuckle to get to it.
> To my dismay I discovered that the nut on the top of the new passenger side
> lower ball joint was missing. The two lower bolts were loose and had enlarged
> the holes in the lower arm. I have taken the following steps: Used Red
> LocTite on the top stud in addition to the lock washer. Drilled out the two
> side bolts to take 5/16" fine thread (24 threads / inch) grade 8 bolts. Again
> I used LocTite and added lock nuts that wedge down on the bolt. Still being
> concerned about the bolts coming loose and dropping the joint, I tack welded
> the heads of the two bolts to the arm. If I ever have to take it apart I can
> loosen them with a metal chisel. I haven't taken it out on a trip yet.
> Anyone else have an experience like this? Any other suggestions?
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM

 

[thomas g. warner]

Both sides can be taken out without removing the knuckles. If no one else
answers I would be happy to describe how to do it. I am in a hurry for a
meeting. have to run.

>

>
>A later post seemed to say that.
>BTW, for future reference, it is not necessary to remove the knuckle to
>remove a drive shaft. >>
>
>Yes, you are correct. I meant to say that I replaced the 5/16" with 3/8".
>The holes were worn by the loose bolts so that a 3/8" drill took out very
>little more metal. I'll have to read the article you quote about the removal
>of the drive shaft. I seem to recall that you can take out the passenger one
>without removal of the knuckle but not the driver's side?
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach