Ball joints or control arms?

[Auslander RML]

So after bearing with some noise, I took my car into a garage and I need 3 wheel bearings and two front ball joints. ($$$). Problem is, I have looked at several parts catalogs and can't find ball joints. Are they a part of the control arm assembly, or are they under a different name?

 

[jrt67ss350]

New control arm assemblies include the balljoints. You can get balljoints separately, but it's easier to just replace the whole control arm than to have to take the old control arms to someone to have the two ball joints in each arm pressed out and the new ones pressed in. If you just buy new control arm assemblies it truly is an "unbolt the old ones, bolt in the new ones" procedure.

 

[Auslander RML]

Hmmm...thats good to know, thanks!

 

[Ben]

If you just buy new control arm assemblies it truly is an "unbolt the old one, then find out that the damn thing is stuck on there, beat it with a hammer for a while with no success, then finally get a 6 foot pry bar and a sledge hammer and beat the **** outta it and finally the damn thing drops off. then bolt in the new one, and its off to the other side" procedure.

.....

 

[Ben]

actually, the second time i did it, i knew what i was doing so it took me about 10 minutes. the first time, it took about 3 hours.