Jan 7, 2015, 12:33 PM
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DIY Lower Ball Joints for the 2nd Gen GS. - Step by Step Instructions and Pictures
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Wow that's a great write up. I just paid $100.00 bux to get them swapped out 2 weeks ago. For me, it was worth it cuz i hate working on anything...especially in Texas heat.
.....not to mention i'm almost mechanically retarded.
.....not to mention i'm almost mechanically retarded.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,392
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Not a bad price, and it sounds like it makes a huge difference. This will be next on my list but I will let my mechanic handle these chores. Maybe I will stick around and watch though so I can do it myself next time
Driver
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: texas
I did mine this past friday..really easy. I think it took an hour working really slowly, washing my hands a few times & stopping to cool off.
Anyways, my tip for everyone: if you have a 17mm open ended wrench, then you dont even need to touch the brakes to get the bolt off the tie rod end. There's not enough room for a socket to fit without removing the brakes, but I know if i had a regular wrench, it would have saved me a little time.
Also I used a long twist-tie to hang the caliper. I ran the wire through the hole where the caliper bolts to the spindle & through the coil spring & twisted a couple times.
And yeah, your alignment wont be perfect afterwards (mine's not) because the tire sits differently on worn balljoints than on new ones I guess. I think it throws off your camber. and I didnt replace the tie rods so it;s not the toe. Its not bad enough for me to need an alignment, but you be the judge once you get yours replaced.
Anyways, my tip for everyone: if you have a 17mm open ended wrench, then you dont even need to touch the brakes to get the bolt off the tie rod end. There's not enough room for a socket to fit without removing the brakes, but I know if i had a regular wrench, it would have saved me a little time.
Also I used a long twist-tie to hang the caliper. I ran the wire through the hole where the caliper bolts to the spindle & through the coil spring & twisted a couple times.
And yeah, your alignment wont be perfect afterwards (mine's not) because the tire sits differently on worn balljoints than on new ones I guess. I think it throws off your camber. and I didnt replace the tie rods so it;s not the toe. Its not bad enough for me to need an alignment, but you be the judge once you get yours replaced.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: USA
Good thread. Thanks. When ordering parts I have noticed most people are buying the lh and rh as separate items. They are available as a set.
Part # 43340-39415 (thanks to MarkMAcGS$ for saving me bucks) it does not show up on the parts sheet as a pair. Go to sewell and do a search for this part number. Be sure to change the "search by" to part number.
Sewell also has nuts and bolts that go with the ball joints. I have not seen anybody else list these with the parts they bought. Any comments on whether or not this is a good idea would be a good add to the thread. I am going to buy them because they are cheap.
Part # 43340-39415 (thanks to MarkMAcGS$ for saving me bucks) it does not show up on the parts sheet as a pair. Go to sewell and do a search for this part number. Be sure to change the "search by" to part number.
Sewell also has nuts and bolts that go with the ball joints. I have not seen anybody else list these with the parts they bought. Any comments on whether or not this is a good idea would be a good add to the thread. I am going to buy them because they are cheap.
Chenzo26, thanks for the time and effort you put into this thread. I used this along with the other thread in the sticky and tackeled my outer balljoints and tie rods end this weekend. No walk in the park due to stubborn bolts and a small issue with one of the tie rod ends but got it done! Thanks again.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: NY
great write up, I just did the balljoints and tie rod ends DIY yesterday and steering feels like the car is new. the steering is very stiff, like race car stiff, it's great. Too bad I didn't have a torque wrench, I just tightened everything as much as I could, and its pretty damn tight, my body was turning 360 degrees on the floor when i was tightening those bolts.
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Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: NY
i also want to add that my steering wheel is off by a very noticeable amount after the bj and tie rod replacement. But i'm also planning to replace my steering rack and sway bar bushings soon, should I wait and get an alignment then or would the bushing replacements wont affect my alignment since removal of sway bar or steering rack is not required for their bushings replacment.
for balljoints, you get a clicking/clunking noise when you turn the steering wheel, or entering a driveway. Or you can just jack up your car, take out the wheel, and lift the rotor assembly to see if you have any freeplay.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: NY
^^ definitely the clicking/clunking noise, mine was so bad the night prior to changing my bj's that the clunking was echoing through my campus streets at night, was just glad no one was around or else i'll be getting weird stares...
and yes, definitely 2 wrenches for replacing the tie rod ends
and yes, definitely 2 wrenches for replacing the tie rod ends