Just went to the mechanic today about vibration issue and he told me that I need all new ball joints. He also told me that I can't buy the joints and the arm seperate, so the job would cost around 1100. I went to jagbits to see about buying the parts and they do offer the joints seperate. Does that mean I may not need the control arm. If so, I can save around 700. Can I replace ball joints without replacing the arm? Any advice would be great.

 

They say it can be done with a ball joint press and suitable spacers e.g., a 2" pipe fitting with the threads ground off has been mentioned. Check the boards. Others have had less luck.
The top ones appear to be easier to replace than the bottom ones.

 

the small stapler style press will not do the job. the larger c-clamp press worked like a dream for me. you need various pipe fittings also

 

Do you know exactly which pipe fittings i am going to need?

 

some 2" couplings worked for me. But you do understand that we are taliking about using the pipe fittings on a hydraulic shop press, right? My 30 ton was in a pretty good strain when the joints popped out- some excitement ensued!

 

Actually I have no idea. But I figured with the advice listed here and an alldata, I can pull it off...

 

I changed them on the car using a heavy duty ball joint press that came as a kit with some sleaves but I still had to buy and grind some pipe fittings. To get the fittings to seat onto the control arms you have to cut away the outer rim of the ball joints. I used a grinder and worked slowly to avoid cutting into the control arm

When each ball joints finally released into the C clamp it sounded like a gun shot. You have to be very determined to complete this work.