GM 89040241
Upper Ball Joint

You need to lift your car securely when working on the upper Control Arm Ball Joint for both 4wd and 2wd models. Support the vehicle by placing a jack stand under the lower Control Arm assembly when you take off its tire and wheel. Detach the front brake hose from the Control Arm while removing the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt and bracket connections. To remove the upper Control Arm from the ball stud remove all retention nuts and discard them before taking out the nut from the upper Ball Joint. Place the j-42188-b Ball Joint separator across the Ball Joint and Steering Knuckle to disengage them and take out the Ball Joint. Secure the new Ball Joint to the Steering Knuckle according to fastener guidelines when putting it in place. Apply a new upper Ball Joint nut and tighten it to 75 nm (55 lb ft) torque. Put retention nuts through the upper Control Arm and ball stud before tightening them to 47 nm (35 lb ft). Reinstall the two wheel speed sensor brackets then fasten their bolt to 20 nm (15 lb ft). Hook the front brake hose to the upper Control Arm then place the tire and wheel assembly back before taking out the lower Control Arm stand and putting the vehicle down. Finally, verify the wheel alignment.

When replacing the upper Control Arm Ball Joint on 2wd z85 and zq8 vehicles start by lifting and supporting the vehicle followed by tire and wheel removal. Place the lower Control Arm onto a suitable stand and separate the front brake hose from the upper Control Arm area. First take off the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt before disconnecting the wheel speed sensor brackets. Use tool j-42188-b to disconnect the Ball Joint from the Steering Knuckle and remove the upper Ball Joint nut. Afterward pull the Ball Joint out of the upper Control Arm by removing the joint nuts and bolts. Insert the new Ball Joint into the Control Arm top slot then install factory bolts. Thread on the bolts first then twist nuts until you reach 16 nm torque value. Secure the Ball Joint to the Steering Knuckle by adding a replacement nut at the upper joint and torque it to 100 nm (74 lb ft). Secure the wheel speed sensor brackets and fasten the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt to 20 nm (15 lb ft). Fix the brake hose connection at the upper Control Arm then disconnect the lower support and put back the wheel assembly properly. Lower the vehicle and check if the wheels are aligned correctly in their final position.

You should start with a normal procedure by raising your car for all z71 4wd and 2wd vehicles. Put the vehicle up and take out the tire and wheel before holding the lower Control Arm with a safe jack stand. Detach the front brake hose by removing the connection from the upper Control Arm while also taking out the wheel speed sensor brackets bolts. Separate the Control Arm from its ball stud connection by taking out and discarding the bolt retention and proceed to remove and discard the upper Ball Joint nut. To detach the Ball Joint from the Steering Knuckle you should employ the Ball Joint separator (J-42188-B) and remove the Ball Joint from its mounting location. Install new Ball Joint to Steering Knuckle before securing new nut to upper Ball Joint and torquing it to 75 n.m (55 lb ft). Place the upper Control Arm onto the ball stud and fasten the retaining nuts while tightening them to 47 n.m (35 lb ft). Reinsert the wheel speed sensor brackets before installing and tightening the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt to 20 n.m (15 lb ft). After connecting the front brake hose to the upper Control Arm install the tire and wheel assembly remove the lower Control Arm support and lower the vehicle then check wheel alignment.

Attach the new ball joint to the upper control arm, ensuring to follow the Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Remove the wheel speed sensor bracket bolt and disconnect the wheel speed sensor brackets.

First, remove the steering knuckle.

Reinstall the steering knuckle and verify the wheel alignment according to the specifications.

Detach the ball joint from the lower control arm.

Attach the new ball joint to the upper control arm, ensuring to follow the fastener notice for proper installation.