Changing Lower Ball Joints
Grind off the heads of the 3 rivets holding the lower ball joint and use a punch to hammer them out. Replacement lower ball joints come with bolts and nuts made for the stock hole sizes. Grinding the head off won't effect the dimension or distort the holes like drilling can. You have to disconnect the sway bar, hub bolt and strut bolts and possibly the tie rod in order to get access to the old ball-joint. You could use a pickle-fork to disconnect the lower ball-joint from the steering knuckle while the strut is still connected. You'll find it much easier to get everything you can out of the way. It may even be easier to actually remove the control arm from the Impala/Malibu, which is held on by two bolts, one is a torques (sorry I don't have the size) where the nut often come loose without using the torques enough to strip it (make sure you have a quality torques bit if you attempt this method; buy the "one" you need and stay away from cheap manufactured torques bits. Again, I'm sorry I don't have the size for you.). There's a video on how to replace the Impala's lower control arm on youtube. It's around $80+ for the entire control arm and lower ball joint if you don't want to mess around with grinding off the rivets (about $30-40 more than the lower ball-joint alone). Check the control arm bushings, it may be time to replace anyways. Oh and while you have your CV shaft disconnected from the hub, do yourself or someone else a favor and grease (or anti-seize)the spline before you put it back into the hub. I'm working on one right now that I literally have to torch off. It sucks, but what else can you do when they don't come apart?
Sorry but impala ball joints are not pressed in they are secured by rivets
SOURCE: lower ball joint removal how to
these jouints are pressed in and there is a flange that is flared this is what the tool numbers refer too.
SOURCE: repalce ball joints 01' Chevy Blazer 4WD
you should just be able to loosen the half shaft and be ok that way
SOURCE: upper and lower ball joints
Jack the truck clear of the ground and let the wheel assembly hang. After you remove the tire place your jack under the lower control arm so it's firm. Remove the cotter pin, if you have one and loosen the big nut almost off. Wedge a "pickle fork" between the control arm and the spindle and give it a belt with a hammer until the ball joint pops. Raise the jack so you can undo the nut easily and separate the control arm and spindle.
The upper ball joint is riveted or bolted in. Grind the rivets or use a cold chisel and remove the ball joint. Clean up the area with some sandpaper, dirt , loose rust, etc.and put the new joint in. Put the spindle back on using the jack if necessary and put the nut back on and tighten.
The lower ball joint is pressed in. Tie the spindle out of the way and brace the lower control arm with some blocks or the jack if you have to. A few whacks with a hammer should pop the joint out. Clean the hole out lightly, just to remove loose rust and dirt. Put the ball joint, minus the grease fitting ,,in the hole and use the jack with a block of wood, to put it in place.You may have to fiddle with the spindle to make sure it is lined up. I've never had any trouble using a 1ton trolley jack and the weight of the truck to put the lower ball joint back in. Replace the nut and grease fitting.
The new ball joints will probably come with cotter pins, use them. Make sure the new joints are tight or they will wear the holes in the spindle. Don't forget to grease the new joints. Hope this helps.
SOURCE: how do i change my upper and lower ball joints
Jack up the car remove wheel remove brake caliper and remove rotor rent a ball joint press remover and installer tool (at schucks you get money back when you bring it back) if it's 4 wheel drive you will have to remove the axle shaft next pull the snap ring off on the top side and put tool on the lower tie rod end and press out, next do the top press out top joint next sand ball joint sockets so it is clean lube with WD-40 next press in top ball joint and then lower ball joint. In this order otherwise you will have to un install the top ball joint by removing the pin then nut.
SOURCE: replace lower ball joints on a 2000 chevy blazer 4
Raise vehicle up on jack stands so that the stands are under the lower controll arms and the suspension is "loaded" Remove the front tire(s) (if you break the torque on the nuts while the wheel is still on the ground it helps, but do not loosen them completely as you will be looking for new rims and wheel studs too). Place a drift or some other suitable object in one of the brake rotor vanes so that it will hit the brake caliper and stop the rotor from moving and remove the CV shaft nut (it's a big ****** make sure you have the right socket on hand before getting to this point). Next remove the brake caliper and rotor then undo the wheel bearing retaining bolts and remove the wheel bearing. This should give you enough room to move the axle shaft back and up so you can work on the ball joint. If you've had ball joints replaced before just unbolt the ones that are installed and using a pickle fork, or a block of wood and a hammer, drive the ball joint stud from the knuckle. (make sure to support the upper control arm so it doesn't drop down on you when you do this) If you are working on original ball joints then I reccomend placing a block of wood or something else that will protect the cv boots from drill bits ect and drill out the rivets holding the ball joint in place. then remove in the same manner indicated in the previous paragraph. installation is pretty much the reverse of removal and don't forget to torque your cv shaft nut I have a 1999 and the manual specs 103FTlbs... This is a critical torque as it helps preload your wheel bearing. Too high and you'll burn them up, too low and they'll be loose and wear out.
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The rivets are easier to remove if you put a solid support under the arm. The smallest flex can make it impossible to drive them out.
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