Replacing Lower Ball Joints

So I went in for an alignment the other week and they said that my lower ball joints were shot and needed to be replaced, they then quoted me 300 per side to replace. Normally suspension work is not my specialty I refuse to pay 600 to have it fixed. My brother went to automotive school and worked in a few shops but he is just a little less lost then myself.


I have yet to find a video or forum tell me how to do it so I am reaching out here to see if anyone could help.

Adam is our suspension expert. (moparcharger06)

http://www.chicagolandareamodernmopars.com/t6778-adam-is-da-man?highlight=adam

Lower ball joints are in the spindles so you'll need to have them pressed out and in. Adam can help you out.

If I give you guys my number can anyone contact him to text or call me

I have the miller press to do the ball joints, but don't think I have the die set. If you find the dies and want to borrow the press it's all yours. Have Adam make sure it's the lower ball joints, those don't usually seem to be the ones that go first.
bill

Yeah after just giving up and removing the entire control arm the lower ball joint was bad, lots of slack and play in it

Damn I would really love to borrow that tool, but orland park is an hour from south Barrington, where I work, and im sure it would take longer after work. Unless you work closer to my area

I work in Summit, I-55 and 1st Ave. If you are going to repair it yourself you could try a local machine shop. Most would be able to press it out for you without too much of a problem.

bill

Yeah, I am just going to remove that arm and have a shop press it out for me. Thanks guys.

Greyghost9 wrote:

Yeah, I am just going to remove that arm and have a shop press it out for me.  Thanks guys.

Great idea.

Has anyone noticed replacement ball joints with an offset spindle. I checked everyplace online, other then Dodge, and they all now come with this +1 -1 offset for camber on the ball joint. I went with these ball joint and no alignment shop seems to know what to make of these.

I'm pretty sure you can turn the taper with an allen key to adjust it in or out before you set the taper. Once it tightened, I think you'd need to pop it back out to adjust it again? I know you already bought the offset ones, but here are some straight ones.
Moog lower balljoint

bill

Thanks Funk, I wish I would have found those before I placed these offset ones in.

You want adj. camber so you can remove some of that neg that is built in. Alignments are kind of bullshit without some adjustment.

It seems like every shop I have taken the car to can't figure it out with the offset ball joints. I took it to a meinke and they were able to adjust the chamber but it is still toed way out and they can't seem to get it. I just need to get this damn thing aligned and not pay a fuck load for them to figure out the issue. Its driving me nuts.

Yeah, a lot of shops don't really understand our platforms.

This: http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php/198325-LX-RWD-Lower-Ball-Joint-Replacement

search is your friend.

Yeah that is very close to how mine came apart, I used that as a guide step wise to make sure everything went in and back together correctly.

take it to adam..... he'll align it up for ya.....

I have been trying to talk to him and he hasn't been responsive, it's the summer and all so I don't blame him.