Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement.
| [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242443] |
Thu, 06 March 2014 01:24  |
BobDunahugh
Messages: 2465
Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Karma: 11
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I'm really surprised that the upper ball joint needs to be replaced. As the one that's in there now is bolted in. Thus a replacement. Is that one pressed in with the bolts holding the joint in place. Shouldn't it be a case of just taking the bolts out. Should be real simple. RIGHT? Bob Dunahugh Member GMCMI78 Royale.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242569 is a reply to message #242443] |
Thu, 06 March 2014 20:53  |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
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I asked Ken Frey about the ball joints on my coach when he did the bearings and bushings. He said they were good and that the upper ball joints seldom go bad.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242575 is a reply to message #242443] |
Thu, 06 March 2014 21:23 |
Craig Lechowicz
Messages: 541
Registered: October 2006
Location: Waterford, MI
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Emery,
At one of Dave Lenzi's seminars, he said the lower ball joint supports all of the weight and the upper one just keeps the knuckle located, so he also said he has seldom found bad upper ball joints.
Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242591 is a reply to message #242574] |
Fri, 07 March 2014 01:00 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Emery,
Ken told me the same thing adding that the lowers carry the weight of the front end; the uppers merely locate the top of the
knuckle to set caster and camber.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: Emery Stora
For some reason I think that the lower ball joints seldom go bad and it's the uppers that need replacing.
Anyone else know anything about this ?
Emery Stora
On Mar 6, 2014, at 7:53 PM, Steve Adams <sjadams@ptd.net> wrote:
I asked Ken Frey about the ball joints on my coach when he did the bearings and bushings. He said they were good and that the upper
ball joints seldom go bad.
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242593 is a reply to message #242591] |
Fri, 07 March 2014 01:47 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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OK
I guess I just had it backwards. I know that one ( must be lower) has been replaced on mine.
Damn memory must be starting to go.
Emery Stora
> On Mar 7, 2014, at 12:04 AM, Robert Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>
> Emery,
>
> Ken told me the same thing adding that the lowers carry the weight of the front end; the uppers merely locate the top of the
> knuckle to set caster and camber.
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> Sydney, Australia
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Emery Stora
>
> For some reason I think that the lower ball joints seldom go bad and it's the uppers that need replacing.
>
> Anyone else know anything about this ?
>
> Emery Stora
>
> On Mar 6, 2014, at 7:53 PM, Steve Adams <sjadams@ptd.net> wrote:
>
> I asked Ken Frey about the ball joints on my coach when he did the bearings and bushings. He said they were good and that the upper
> ball joints seldom go bad.
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242644 is a reply to message #242593] |
Fri, 07 March 2014 12:54 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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| emerystora wrote on Fri, 07 March 2014 00:47 |
OK
I guess I just had it backwards. I know that one ( must be lower) has been replaced on mine.
Damn memory must be starting to go.
Emery Stora
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Emery,
My late father in law used to say "the memory is the second thing to go and I can't remember the first".
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242745 is a reply to message #242443] |
Sat, 08 March 2014 09:17 |
winter
Messages: 247
Registered: September 2007
Location: MPLS MN
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I was once told the proper way to grease the ball joints is to take the weight of the vehicle off of them. That lets the grease in easier and helps them last longer. Any truth to that?
Jerrod Winter
1977 Palm Beach
Green Jelly Bean
Twin Cities, Minnesota
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242746 is a reply to message #242745] |
Sat, 08 March 2014 09:30 |
mtnman111
Messages: 20
Registered: August 2004
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Makes sense to me, how you gonna get grease on the wear surfaces if you don't separate them by taking the weight off?
Have a great day, larry c.
> On Mar 8, 2014, at 7:17 AM, jerrod winter <jerrod_beth@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I was once told the proper way to grease the ball joints is to take the weight of the vehicle off of them. That lets the grease in easier and helps them last longer. Any truth to that?
> --
> Jerrod Winter
> 1977 Palm Beach
> Green Jelly Bean
> Twin Cities, Minnesota
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L Conley 260 glacier
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242795 is a reply to message #242745] |
Sat, 08 March 2014 18:10 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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G'day,
A high-pressure output-type lever-operated gun can produce pressures as high as 103.4 MPa (15,000 psi).
Reference: http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/534/grease-gun-safety
Here's a cheap one from Harbor Freight that puts out 4500 psi
http://www.harborfreight.com/lever-action-grease-gun-1703.html#.UxuwtRf_CSo
When you use a grease gun it is IMPERATIVE you see old grease coming out of whatever you are greasing as that's the only way to tell
if fresh grease is going in.
It has been noted here that there also was a problem with grease Zerks with threaded sections too long which when screwed into the
socket would make contact with the ball and not allow grease to enter the ball joint. I'm not sure if it was a ball joint, tie rod
end, or drag link end.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of jerrod winter
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2014 2:18 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement.
I was once told the proper way to grease the ball joints is to take the weight of the vehicle off of them. That lets the grease in
easier and helps them last longer. Any truth to that?
--
Jerrod Winter
1977 Palm Beach
Green Jelly Bean
Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242796 is a reply to message #242795] |
Sat, 08 March 2014 18:15 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Oops!
The instant I hit "Send" I remembered that it has also been noted here that it's a good idea to move the rear bogies up and down
when greasing them. I have bogie greasers made by Gary Kosier
http://www.bdub.net/kosier/index.html#BogieGreaserKit
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Mueller
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2014 11:12 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement.
G'day,
A high-pressure output-type lever-operated gun can produce pressures as high as 103.4 MPa (15,000 psi).
Reference: http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/534/grease-gun-safety
Here's a cheap one from Harbor Freight that puts out 4500 psi
http://www.harborfreight.com/lever-action-grease-gun-1703.html#.UxuwtRf_CSo
When you use a grease gun it is IMPERATIVE you see old grease coming out of whatever you are greasing as that's the only way to tell
if fresh grease is going in.
It has been noted here that there also was a problem with grease Zerks with threaded sections too long which when screwed into the
socket would make contact with the ball and not allow grease to enter the ball joint. I'm not sure if it was a ball joint, tie rod
end, or drag link end.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of jerrod winter
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2014 2:18 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement.
I was once told the proper way to grease the ball joints is to take the weight of the vehicle off of them. That lets the grease in
easier and helps them last longer. Any truth to that?
--
Jerrod Winter
1977 Palm Beach
Green Jelly Bean
Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242871 is a reply to message #242443] |
Sun, 09 March 2014 10:14 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Bob just inspect the control arm surface to be flat and free of burrs. Dave Lenzi says to do a dry fit first to be sure previous hammer mechanics have not mared the mating surface and the joint does not rock back and forth. This is more important on the lower load bearing joint but always good practice to prevent stress cracking. Also be sure to tighten the big nut with hand tools. Some guys put an impact on there before the stud taper takes grip and that can spin the joint at high speed. This is more the case on the new car low friction Kevlar units (ruins them) but just good practice. Common knowledge is that the uppers on GM full frame vehicles Usually outlast the lowers by at least 2 to 1, but if they were not greased all bets are off.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242901 is a reply to message #242795] |
Mon, 10 March 2014 09:12 |
corleyw
Messages: 130
Registered: June 2007
Location: Battle Ground, WA
Karma: 0
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| USAussie wrote on Sat, 08 March 2014 15:10 |
G'day,
When you use a grease gun it is IMPERATIVE you see old grease coming out of whatever you are greasing as that's the only way to tell
if fresh grease is going in.
|
Except... If you force grease out of a sealed part, you will destroy the seal, which in turn allows water into the part which destroys the part. Therefore, in general, forcing grease out of sealed parts is a no-no. I don't know the seal quality of the GMC ball joints, and certainly not all ball joints use positive seals, but some do. AND, before you mention it, some seals are made to allow grease to flow out, but block water coming back in.
My advise is, watch the part as you are greasing it, if the boot seal is ballooning, the part probably has a real positive seal, and it's best not to cause it to break.
That's just what I do...
Corley
'76 Glenbrook
29 other vehicles
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242946 is a reply to message #242901] |
Mon, 10 March 2014 16:25 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Corley,
Oops! You're right!
I ASSUMED that someone who was greasing ball joints with a sealed boot would be smart enough to realize that when the boot ballooned
grease was going in.
Other than ball joints with boots what other parts have you run into that are sealed and have a grease zerk? I can't think of any
parts like that off the top of my head.
It seems to me an engineer that designed a part that needed to be greased through a zerk and specified a seal that would not allow
grease to escape needs to have his head examined!
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Corley Wooldridge
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 1:13 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement.
USAussie wrote on Sat, 08 March 2014 15:10
> G'day,
>
> When you use a grease gun it is IMPERATIVE you see old grease coming out of whatever you are greasing as that's the only way to
tell if fresh grease is going in.
Except... If you force grease out of a sealed part, you will destroy the seal, which in turn allows water into the part which
destroys the part. Therefore, in general, forcing grease out of sealed parts is a no-no. I don't know the seal quality of the GMC
ball joints, and certainly not all ball joints use positive seals, but some do. AND, before you mention it, some seals are made to
allow grease to flow out, but block water coming back in.
My advise is, watch the part as you are greasing it, if the boot seal is ballooning, the part probably has a real positive seal, and
it's best not to cause it to break.
That's just what I do...
Corley
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GMCnet mailing list
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Upper ball Joint replacement. [message #242947 is a reply to message #242443] |
Mon, 10 March 2014 16:31 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Most GM ball joints from the 70s had the little weep slit in the boot. Now on my 97 Tahoe they swell and I stop there. Maybe as it's 4 x 4 to keep mud and water out ???
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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