So, this might be a dumb question, but Haynes/Chiltons and Pontiac service manual seem to say that I'm not going to change a front lower ball joint on my 87 duke...
Looks to me like they're all saying to change the entire lower control arm. I'm sure I've seen a topic inluding replacing the front lowers somewhere, or is it a better idea to just change the whole arm? Sorry I'm not much of a suspension guy

rent a ball joint press from autozone , press ball joint out the bottom..

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87 GT
series 1 3800sc (7.597 @88.53 1.579 60ft)
(series II swap in progress)
85GT Northstar/ 4t80e
86GT 3800 n/a
My Build

You cannot buy a new A arm/ball joint assembly. You have to press the old one out. Look closely because I have had some that were tack welded in on the underside of the A arm. If so, you have to grind/chisel the weld bead off first.

There is a good write up in the “FAQ’s and How to” section:

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum9/HTML/000007.html

I just purchased some from Rodney and replaced mine.

The only additional note I can add is the ball joint press is designed to crank from the bottom when removing the ball joints. If you are up on jackstands in the garage like I was there isn’t enough clearance for the “screw in” section of the ball joint to press because it will hit the floor. I had to put a spark plug socket on top of the old ball joint to press it out and have the “screw in” section of the ball joint press at the top.

are the ones from Rodney better than Auto Zone or some other supplier?

quote Originally posted by blacknblue: are the ones from Rodney better than Auto Zone or some other supplier?

They better be. I just replaced all four front ball joints in my '88 Formula with units from Rodney, as reported Here.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-17-2013).]