[Guest]

hello

I apologize if some of this is mistyped but I'm under a few becks right now.
I was fighting with the front suspension and decided to give up for the night.
I'm having problems disconnecting the upper controll arm from the spindle or whatever that whole thing is called. I got the LCA and spring out of the way. The FSM mentiones some 3 fasteners on the top but hence the car is 10 yrs old all I see is some round bubbles. To me it seems like the top of the busing is held by 3 rivets rather than fasteners.
Please help, any tips taking that stuff out?
I want to get the pass side done and then do the driver side tomorrow.
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

What are you repairing/replacing?

 

[Guest]

I want to take out the front suspension.
I already have the steering out (tie rods, center link, pittman arm, ...)

I got the disc caliper, rotor and LCA out.

I'm left with the UCA and whatever is between the LCA and UCA (that's where the rotor mounts to.

The FMS shows some 3 or 4 fasteners on the top but to me they look more like rivets, I got the pin and bolt out from the bushing but that's as far as I went.

 

[Guest]

-The "thing" between UCA and LCA is called the "Steering Knuckle" or "Spindle". You can use a ball joint tool to seperate it from the UCA - but remove the castle nut from the ball joint first.

Those "bubbles" are the heads of rivets that hold the factory ball joint to the UCA. Grind the heads down as directed and use a drill and punch to complete the job. The new ball joints are held in with nuts and bolts.

When it's time to remove the UCA, fabricate a tool from a large socket and a C-clamp (search this forum for details) and push the Pivot Shaft mounting bolts out of their anchors on the frame. You may need to do this on the driver side to free the UCA, you will definitely need to do this on the passenger side.

-Jay

 

[Guest]

I removed the nut on the bottom and tried a fork to seperate but all it did is nicely destroyed the bushing.
So I need to drill out the rivets now?

 

[Guest]

Ripping the rubber boot is the downside of using a separating fork. I prefer to use a slightly modified pitman arm puller to separate the ball joint and knuckle.

Since you're replacing the ball joints, destroying the old boot is not a concern. The new ball joint will include a new boot.

It will also be easier to remove the ball joint from the upper control arm after you remove the control arm from the car.

Also, FWIW, a rivet is a type of fastener.

 

[Guest]

- 94cruiser you have two seperate issues here. Removing the rivets is going to permit you to disassemble the ball joint from the UCA.

You will still need to remove the ball joint from the spindle.

-Jay

 

[Guest]

If you have not yet gotten it apart: I would suggest getting a 2-3lb BRASS hammer.
Strike the "side" of the steering knuckle (or spindle) where the upper ball joint taper shaft is attached: 3-4 HARD hits and it should just
Jump-Off!
Learned this many years ago from an "OLD" mechanic - (only way to loosen king pins!)
The Brass is soft enough that the hammer doesn't bounce much and a lot of force is transmitted without messing up the particular part you are hitting.

I have taken apart a bunch of suspensions and seldom do I have to resort to a pickle fork to get the parts to come apart. - you don't mess up the joint boots either!

Because you already have the lower arm off: partially reinstall the nut (and in the future)back the nuts off about 1/4" and then use the hammer to lossen the taper pin on any joint and then carefully complete the removal - this keeps parts from flying around under the car and damaging something or hurting you!

Good Luck!