I got the top bolt off the sway bar linkage... i cant get the bottom to pull the rod out... it just free spins... but i think i can work around this...

however now im trying to remove the stearing knuckel from the balljoint...

i removed the retaining clip and loosened the nut on the top, and hit the side with a hammer to loosen it up... now im trying to pry it down off the knuckel.... i can move it 1 CM.... then nothing.... i cannot get it off.... im stuck.....

any suggestions.....

Scratch that...

my balljoint was separated in to two pieces... which made it tough as a motha... but i got it off...

now i've drilled a hole in each rivet.. but i cant budge the balljoint....

I dont want to have to remove the control arm from the car if i dont have to ... any suggestions here to get the rivets to pop....

drill the head right off the rivets then pount them out, and the balljoint should come out.

yep .. use an air chisel to knock the rivets out once you drilled teh heads off. or a BFH works also.

the heads didnt come off... theres a hole through em ... the biggest bit i could get in the drill and the dril under the car between the ground and the rivets is a 1/4th bit...

if i get a thick enough nail and pound that in to the hole with a hammer should that pop the heads off?

A nail wont do anything but crush.. you need a punch, or something else hardend. they heat the ball joint red hot then drop the rivet in, they are in there tight, but they will come out if you beat it hard enouh. i've done it both by hand and using an air chisel.

pezed wrote:A nail wont do anything but crush.. you need a punch, or something else hardend. they heat the ball joint red hot then drop the rivet in, they are in there tight, but they will come out if you beat it hard enouh. i've done it both by hand and using an air chisel.

What would possess GM to go through that effort when they could use bolts and just torque em down....

Your gonna need more on the lines of a 7/16 bit. You can get them with a 3/8 shank to fit your drill. Other options are cold chisel or air chisel to take the heads off and use a punch or old philips to get them out. The will pop right out fairly easy once the heads are off.
Also try and give your self alittle more room undernieth if you can for swinging the hammer.
Hope this helps.


brien
89 Z24

XsTrEmE-Delusions(CensorThis!) wrote:

pezed wrote:A nail wont do anything but crush.. you need a punch, or something else hardend. they heat the ball joint red hot then drop the rivet in, they are in there tight, but they will come out if you beat it hard enouh. i've done it both by hand and using an air chisel.

What would possess GM to go through that effort when they could use bolts and just torque em down....

Rivets are Cheaper. And most likely they consider it a safety issue.. bolts can come out, rivets wont unless you work hard at it.