brake Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 I'm replacing the drivers side wheel bearing and ball joint tomorrow. I've replaced ball joints before but never on a W body...is there anything out of the ordinary I should be prepared for before I dive in? I don't know if it's ever been replaced before so it's probably still riveted in. What's the most effective tool to use to kill the rivets? I'm doing it in the shop at school so it's likely we have whatever it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Grind away the head of the rivet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brake Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 so shall it be done! thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brake Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 it must have been replaced before because it was bolted in. they were riveted from the factory, weren't they? i knew the pass. side ball joint had been done before but had no idea about this one. must have been a while ago because i know the owner that had it for 2 years previous to me taking ownership Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alec_b Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Bolted = replaced. You got lucky, not that those tiny little rivets are that hard to get out. I usually just take my sharpest chisel bit on my air hammer and BAM rivet no more. Switch to the punch tip and bingo bango ball joint is out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brake Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 I will do that the next time I run into a similar ball joint setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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