GM 19146901
Upper Ball Joint

Start service work on the upper Ball Joint by first lifting the vehicle onto safety stands. Take out both the wheel and tire components. Keep the lower Control Arm held up by the floor jack throughout both operations to protect yourself from harm. Position a floor jack under the Control Arm to lift it for support. First unwind the brake hose and the upper Control Arm bracket for the upper Control Arm session only before taking out the Wheel Speed Sensor. Start by making 3.17 mm (1/8 inch) deep holes at the center of each rivet using a 3.17 mm drill before using a 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) drill to remove the rivet heads. Press the pin punch through rivets until they dislodge from socket joint then take out lower stud and upper locker pin. Insert the Ball Joint separator j 36607 into the knuckle joint space to extract the Ball Joint while holding the knuckle correctly and then remove the component. Insert the new Ball Joint into the Control Arm then bolt it in place while tightening the nuts to 23 nm and 70 nm (depending on the model type). Insert the Ball Joint onto the knuckle first. After attaching the Control Arm with the proper z height, install the fold joint stud nut and secure it at 100 nm using a torque wrench. Offer the cotter pin into its aligned position and avoid overrotating beyond one-sixth turn. Place a fresh yield pin into place and secure the pin ends over the nut. Put back the brake hose and its attachments for upper control arms before placing the tire and wheel in position. Place the vehicle on the ground to inspect wheel alignment at the front end.

Users need the Ball Joint separator tool j 23742 to repair the upper Ball Joint. Place floor stands under the vehicle's lower Control Arm while maintaining the floor jack under the arm for safety. To keep the Brake Line safe place a piece of wire below the brake caliper before you remove it together with the wheel and tire. The technician needs to take off both the brake caliper and Wheel Speed Sensor next. To detach the upper Ball Joint, start with a 3.175 mm (1/3 inch) drill to drill into each rivet at its center to reach a 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) depth then switch to a 12.75 mm (1/2 inch) drill to extract the rivet heads. Pull the rivets with a small punch before taking off the cotter pin and upper Ball Joint nut to support the knuckle assembly to avoid damaging the brake hose. The Ball Joint separator j 23742 should be pushed into place to free the stud. Once the tool comes off you can tug the stud forward from the knuckle to remove the Ball Joint. You should place a brand new upper Ball Joint on the Control Arm before attaching nuts and bolts for each location. Tighten the bolt nuts to 24 nm (18 ft. Lbs.) torque. Reinstall the Wheel Speed Sensor and take off the support piece from the knuckle before attaching the upper Ball Joint to the Steering Knuckle. Connect the stud nut and turn it to 100 nm torque (74 ft. Lbs.) while making sure the stud nut slot faces the hole in the stud. Install a brand new cotter pin before adding back the brake caliper and tire wheel parts. Examine both wheel suspension clearance and front wheel alignment status after you put the vehicle back into service.

Begin replacing the upper Ball Joint of light-duty suspension by acquiring a Ball Joint separator tool j23742 first. Lift and stabilize the vehicle with safety stands while also supporting the lower Control Arm for secure work space. Remove tire and wheel first before moving to brake caliper. Detach the bolt and nut connecting wheel speed sensor harness bracket to the upper Control Arm and brake hose before taking out the upper Control Arm itself from the vehicle. Center punch two rivets that hold the Ball Joint to the Control Arm before drilling 5 mm deep holes using a 3.175 mm drill. Use a 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) drill to cut away rivet heads and drive out rivets using a small punch from the center hole made by a 3.175 mm (1/8 inch) drill. Install a brand new upper Ball Joint onto the upper Control Arm by placing its four bolts and nuts correctly and then tightening the upper Ball Joint retaining nuts to 24 nm (18 ft. Lbs). Connect the upper Control Arm to the vehicle then harness and brake hose brackets using a 17 nm torque setting (13 ft. Lbs.) with the specified bolt and nut. Reinstall the brake caliper, place back the wheel and tire, inspect suspension movement spaces, take away the safety blocks and lower the car before testing wheel alignment settings.

Use a pin punch to remove the rivets.

Use a safety stand.

Install a new upper ball joint to the upper control arm.

Drill away the rivet heads using a 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) drill, then punch the rivets out with a small punch and remove the ball joint.

Using the Ball Joint Remover/Installer Set (J9519-30).

Remove the tire and wheel assembly, ensuring the floor jack remains under the lower control arm during removal and installation.

Reinstall the tire and wheel assembly, check the front wheel alignment, and lower the vehicle.

The wheel alignment according to the appropriate specifications for RWD or 4WD pick-ups and utilities.

Load the torsion bar, install the tire and wheel assembly, lower the vehicle, and check the front wheel alignment.

Raise and support the vehicle, then remove the tire and wheel assembly.

Begin by raising the vehicle and supporting the frame with safety stands.

Ball Joint Separator (J 36607).

Place the new upper ball joint onto the upper control arm and secure it with four attaching bolts and nuts, tightening the retaining nuts to 24 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).

Detach the nut and bolt securing the bracket to the upper control arm.

Install the grease fitting and grease the ball joint if equipped.

Install a new cotter pin, ensuring the slots in the nut align with the hole in the stud, and bend the cotter pin to secure it.