Upper Ball Joint Removal

• 1). Park car on a level, gravel free surface. Turn engine off and allow vehicle to cool. Jack the vehicle up with a floor jack on the outside of the lower control arm.
  
  
• 2). Loosen and remove the vehicle wheel lug nuts. Pull wheel off the hub. Remove the upper ball joint cotter pin with a pair of pliers. Loosen the ball joint locking nut using a ratchet and correct size socket. Press the ball joint out of the steering knuckle with a ball joint press tool.
  
  
• 3). Remove the ball joint locking nut using a ratchet and correct size socket. Support the upper control arm with a piece of wood on the frame between the control arms. Cut off the ball joint mounting rivets with a hammer and sharp edged chisel. Remove the ball joint from the housing.
  
  

Lower Ball Joint Removal

• 1). Park car on a level, gravel free surface. Turn engine off and allow vehicle to cool. Jack up the lower control arm with a floor jack.
  
  
• 2). Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin with a pair of pliers. Loosen the ball joint locking nut using a ratchet and a socket.
  
  
• 3). Press the ball joint out of the lower end of the steering knuckle using a ball joint removal tool. Pull the wheel out and up to release the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
  
  
• 4). Loosen and remove the wheel lug nuts. Remove the wheel.
  
  
• 5). Lift the upper control arm and place a piece of wood to support it between the frame. Push the ball joint out of the lower control arm.
  
  

Upper Ball Joint Installation

• 1). Install the new ball joint. Install new mounting bolts and nuts with the nuts facing upward and tighten to appropriate torque using a torque wrench and correct socket.
  
  
• 2). Turn the ball joint shaft to allow cotter pin hole to face the front of the vehicle. Remove the upper control arm support.
  
  
• 3). Set ball joint shaft into the steering knuckle. Install ball joint locking nut and torque to manual specifications using a torque wrench and correct size socket.
  
  
• 4). Install new ball joint shaft cotter pin and bend one end to lock. Grease ball joint with wheel bearing grease and grease gun.
  
  
• 5). Lower vehicle back to ground and remove the jack.
  
  

Lower Ball Joint Installation

• 1). Install ball joint into lower control arm. Turn the ball joint to allow the cotter pin hole to face the front.
  
  
• 2). Remove the lower control arm support. Set ball joint shaft into the steering knuckle. Install ball joint locking nut and torque to manual specifications using a torque wrench and a socket Install new ball joint shaft cotter pin and bend one end to lock.
  
  
• 3). Grease ball joint with wheel bearing grease and grease gun. Reinstall wheel onto hub. Reinstall wheel lug nuts and tighten to manual specifications using a torque wrench and correct size socket.
  
  
• 4). Lower jack from lower control arm.