I have to replace the lower ball joints in my 1994 GMC Yukon 4WD. Has anyone done a job like this to offer me any help/insight regarding this repair. I know I will have to purchase a special tool to press out the old ball joints and press in the new ball joints. Other than that, any instructions/directions will be appreciated. Steve


(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Apr 27, 2007, 3:54 PM)

Hi - I moved the post from Heating and A/C for better exposure.
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Just looked at my 3/4 ton 1997 4X4 which could be the same deal as yours. Looks like a bear!! I know the stabilizer pins are a total pest and big bucks too just to buy them - I was shocked!

You will need HD tools and you might be able to press out and in the joint with a bench vice and the right size pipe but you have to know just where to push or things get damaged. You want the right grade of stuff if it takes a lot of force. Machine shops and some shops have this press and for the very few times I've ever needed one that strong I took the parts to friends shop for that part of the job.

I grease all greasable joints on all my own cars and customers with synthetic grease and only once had to replace a front end joint of any kind that was good when I first started to care for the car/truck. This front end is a pest to grease and I'd bet some places that do regular grease and oil jobs skip a couple fittings. You even have to steer the car to get at one on the center link with most grease guns.

I think you can buy the lower control arm with the joint already in it -- that was the only way I could get a new control arm for an old Cutlass RWD.

In short: Yes you can do it if you have the heavy duty tools,

T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/