Do It Yourself: 1997 S10 Truck Ball Joint Repair

Replacing a ball joint on a 1997 S10 truck by oneself requires a special ball joint installer to press the ball joint into the lower control arm. It is a press fit, and even though it will come out with brute force as with a large hammer, it will not go in without the tool. A ball joint that is not seated is a recipe for a major disaster. The ball joints can be measured from grease fitting to the top of the ball joint stud with the control arm supported and unsupported. If the difference in the two measurements is over 3/32 of an inch, it has reached the end of its useful life.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• ½-inch drive ratchet
• Set of ½-inch drive sockets
• Wire cutters
• Ball joint separator tool
• Large hammer
• Ball joint installer kit
• 6-inch block of wood
• Set of wrenches

Instructions

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands placed under the frame. Remove the wheel and tire assembly, using a ½-inch drive socket. Pull the cotter pin out of the lower ball joint stud, using the wire cutters. Loosen, but do not remove, the lower ball joint stud-nut.

2. Place the floor jack under the lower control arm and make very sure that it is stable and secure so that it will not move. Insert the ball joint separator between the knuckle and the lower control arm. Hit it with a hammer until the lower ball joint comes loose from the knuckle. Remove the nut. Lift the knuckle with the rotor attached up off the ball joint stud and support the knuckle with the block of wood.

3. Stand the ball joint stud straight up vertically and hit it down with the large hammer, knocking it out of the lower control arm.

4. Install the new ball joint up through the bottom of the lower control arm, and push it in as far and straight as possible by hand. Install the ball joint installer tool and press the ball joint the rest of the way in until it seats flush with the lower control arm. Use a wrench to turn the tool until it is seated.

5. Install the grease fitting, using a wrench. Hold the knuckle over the ball joint, line up the hole and set the knuckle down over the stud. Install the stud-nut and tighten to 90 ft-lbs. of torque. Install a new cotter pin and grease the ball joint.