About 13k ago, I replaced the lower ball joints on my Formula. One of them didn't want to seat straight, but it finally went in. The seat may have bent during this. I went to grease the front suspension today, and found this ball joint almost completely slipped out of its seat. Is the control arm ruined? Is there a fix, other than replacing?

Thanks

Billy Moore

You could have the ball joint welded in place; GM did this at the factory when they didn't fit just so...

quote Originally posted by Whuffo: You could have the ball joint welded in place.

That would work, but first choice is to just replace the arm. If you can't find one local I have a L side one that I will send you for $10 plus shipping. This should be an easy part to locally find though.

If you weld it, just tack it in three or four places. That way if it needs to changed again at any time it will be easier to remove.

quote Originally posted by Electrathon: That would work, but first choice is to just replace the arm. If you can't find one local I have a L side one that I will send you for $10 plus shipping. This should be an easy part to locally find though.

Actually, you'd be surprised at how difficult it can be to find an '88 control arm sometimes. I see people looking for them all the time, and I'll say that your price ($10) is the cheapest I've ever seen!

Bryce
88 GT

I got 2 passenger and 1 drivers. The drivers has a relatively new ball joint welded in.

$10 is very cheap. Mine are $20 plus shipping

How would I remove a welded-in ball joint?

Thanks for the replies.

88GTNeverfinished, how much would shipping be for 1 arm?

Billy

Well, last night I installed a new ball joint on the off chance that it was the ball joint that was bent instead of the control arm. No luck. It went in too easy. I'm not through working on it, but I would like to move the car to the driveway. Would I damage a new ball joint if I install it with no grease, and move the car to the driveway? Later, I'll move it back to fix it more permanently. The Fiero's the toy car. Keeping the grocery getters running has to come first.

You should be OK just moving the car.

I have recently completed upper and lower ball joints on three 88's. All had the original joints and all the lowers had snap rings. I wondered why a press fit component needed a retention ring. The Moog replacement joints have the groove but did not come with the snap rings. Most of my replacements pressed in snugly but not all. I reused the retaining rings on all. I have more confidence in the tight press fit. I suppose if you have one that's not really snug, the snap ring might keep it from getting crossed up and wallowing out the control arm but if it just flops around to begin with, I would replace the arm.
jp

[This message has been edited by L67Formula (edited 11-05-2003).]

quote Originally posted by Formula Owner: How would I remove a welded-in ball joint? Thanks for the replies. Billy

A die grinder or similar to grind off the weld spots.

I think I like the idea of snap rings better than welding. I don't do welding. I can do snap rings. Last night I inspected the "good" ball joint a little closer, and found that the grease seal is pretty much gone. I'm not impressed with these ball joints. I am favoring replacing them both now. Where can I get ball joints with snap rings?

Billy

[This message has been edited by Formula Owner (edited 11-06-2003).]

I prefer the Moog ball joints and O'Reilly's carries them. They do not come with the snap rings but they do have the groove cut in them where the ring seats. If they can't supply the snap ring, tractor supply, Case (as in backhoe), large truck parts ......places like that will have them.
jp

I got the ball joint back in after trying to deform the seat a little. I also put some Loctite bonding agent, not sure what number. Still, I'm not confident that this will do the job. So I'm looking at removing the control arm next to have it welded. Are there any writeups on removing control arms on an 88? If I'm going to remove one control arm, I might as well remove them all and replace the bushings.

88GTNeverFinished, do you still have the passenger side LCA's?

[This message has been edited by Formula Owner (edited 11-19-2003).]

My 88 lower ball joints have the groove cut in them and also include the snap ring.

I also have them at the lowest price you will find anywhere.

------------------
PLEASE NOTE MY NEW ADDRESS

Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories
www.rodneydickman.com
New address and phone number after June 20,2003:

Rodney Dickman's Fiero acc's
7604 Treeview Drive
Caledonia, WI 53108
(262) 835-9575

quote Originally posted by Rodney: My 88 lower ball joints have the groove cut in them and also include the snap ring.

The ones on my 88 have the snap rings also !

quote I also have them at the lowest price you will find anywhere.

Thats a Fact !!! I was checking it out a while back, will be purchasing some from Rodney after X-mas.

quote Originally posted by Formula Owner: About 13k ago, I replaced the lower ball joints on my Formula. One of them didn't want to seat straight, but it finally went in. The seat may have bent during this. I went to grease the front suspension today, and found this ball joint almost completely slipped out of its seat. Is the control arm ruined? Is there a fix, other than replacing? Thanks Billy Moore

Yea, get Rodney's. AutoZone rents a tool to install the ball joints. It is a large C-clamp that will remove and install pressed in ball joints. Having said that, I have compressed air and a big honking impact wrench, which makes the job a lot easier.
Short of that, you can take control arm to almost any automotive machine shop and have the old joints pressed out and new ones pressed in. I prolly would have done that if I didn't have the air tools.....Paul

NOBRAINER!!

My advice is to always buy from Rodney. If I need more, that's where I'll get them.
jp