Ball joints

[MarkR]

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I have a rattling in the front end and from the looks of it I need new lower ball joints. How hard are they to replace and wht kind should I get.
99 2dr 4X4

Thanks'
Mark

[MarkR]

Has anyone replaced their ball joints, or am I the first one?

I hate to pay for something that I could have done my self. Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks'
Mark

[clean97LT]

No, you aren't the first, believe me! I just put an upper left ball joint on my 97 4x4. In my experience it's the idle arm and pitman arm that seem to go out the most on these trucks.....you feel a little "bump" coming through the steering wheel and it starts to get sloppy. I"d have that checked before installing the ball joints just to be sure. I'd get a good shop manual, like a Haynes to get good directions if you don't get any feedback here from someone who's performed the repair. Hope this helps.

[foreverfalcon40]

I've done both upper and lower ball joints as well as my pittman arm. I did it all at the same time. I wish I bought the kit off EBAY which has all front suspension pieces for a KILLER KILLER DEAL. I had the access to use a lift which made a dificult install a little less easy. BALL JOINTS are a pain in the ass to get out. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD HAMMER, Strong arm and patients!

The pittman arm is a different story gotta do some wiggling and removing a few pieces for it to get through. I feel this is where GM failed in these trucks!

[MarkR]

Thanks' for the info. Looks Like I will take it to a shop.

[bobcatgt]

first of all it depends on if they are rivited in or if they are pressed in . if they are pressed in then u will need to get yourself a balljount press ''installer'' your local parts store should have a loan a tool program. this tool jis used to remove and install the joints so tale your time and b patient. ur gonna have remove the caliper , maybe the cv axle and upper ball jointsn cv to get to all this buy the way. if they are the factory ball joints then u can tale a torch and blow all the rivets out, if ur not comfortable with that then grind off the heads of the rivets flush with the a arm center punch them and drill them out. the new joints will come with bolts nuts and washers to reinstall the new joints.............by the way when removing the upper balljoint from the spindel male sure u find the spot on the spindel that is flat on the side ....this spot is usually the opposite of ur brake line.....its gonna b right underneath the upper a arm....when removing the joint from the spindel get a good size hammer ...not a framing hammer and knock the hell out of that spot...ur balljoint will pop out of the spindel good luck

[yukon6inchlift]

Originally Posted by MarkR

I have a rattling in the front end and from the looks of it I need new lower ball joints. How hard are they to replace and wht kind should I get.
99 2dr 4X4

Thanks'
Mark

i got life time from napa,,,seem to be holding up good. hard to tell if they are bad by looking unless they are broken bad. jack that wheel up off the ground, grab the tire top and bottom and see if you can move it much. if it does move try looking inside and see if you can see the ball joint move when you do this. may as well grab the sides and see if it has a lot of movement also. look at tierod ends and pitman arm. usually the bad part will do the moving. it will move a little side to side when good but not much. all these parts go bad sooner or later

[fletch57]

I need some help also, I went to the parts store to purchase two new lower ball joints and was asked the question: "what size 48mm or 46mm?" I don't know.

How do I find out the size of the lower ball joints on my 1998 chevy tahoe LT?

[yukon6inchlift]

Originally Posted by fletch57

I need some help also, I went to the parts store to purchase two new lower ball joints and was asked the question: "what size 48mm or 46mm?" I don't know.

How do I find out the size of the lower ball joints on my 1998 chevy tahoe LT?

with out removing them,,,, idk. i'm thinkin one type was splined and the other type was smooth. been a while now but i think the splined ones were bigger. mine was the smooth ones.

[mtyler7807]

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Originally Posted by fletch57

I need some help also, I went to the parts store to purchase two new lower ball joints and was asked the question: "what size 48mm or 46mm?" I don't know.

How do I find out the size of the lower ball joints on my 1998 chevy tahoe LT?

35mm (small) ball joint = stamped control arm
36mm (big) ball joint = forged control arm

this for 4wd 96-99