Just discovered my upper ball joints are shot (84 eagle). The local parts shop had a pair in stock, so I;m a pretty happy guy. Ball joints are an easy replacement, but any specific tips or gremlins to watch for on the Eagle? BTW, the ball joints are the originals-riveted in. so they've been functional for 30 years. (If the new one last half as long, they'll probably outlast me by at least 5 years. :occasion14:
Putting a short piece of two-by-four between the frame sill and the upper control arm before you start will help on reassembly.
I used a right-angle die grinder to grind off the heads of the rivets. The "beheaded" rivets then can be punched out with a hammer and punch. Alternately, you can knock off the old rivet heads with a hammer and chisel, but that's a lot of hammering.
And Mernsy is right...place a hardwood...not pine; it won't hold...block between the frame rail and the upper a-arm before you jack up the car for easier assembly with new ball joints. :eagle:
Grind off the old balljoint and not the arm so you don't damage it.
Thanks for the tips, especially about the 2x4, that makes life easier. Job"s done, Here's the old ball joint- I'd like to thank both God and AMC for getting me home on my last drive.
(http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab90/jimspics09/020.jpg) (http://s852.photobucket.com/user/jimspics09/media/020.jpg.html)
(http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab90/jimspics09/019.jpg) (http://s852.photobucket.com/user/jimspics09/media/019.jpg.html)
That is why it was designed this way. You had gravity on your side keeping it together