Corvette V8-350 5.7L (1982)
Ball Joint: Service and Repair
Lower
1982 CORVETTE
1.
Raise vehicle and support at frame, and remove wheel and tire.
2.
Remove cotter pins from upper and lower joints and loosen but do not remove retaining nuts. Do not loosen nuts more than one full turn.
3.
To release ball studs from knuckle, tap on boss of knuckle with a hammer, using another heavy hammer or similar tool as a drift.
4.
Place a suitable floor jack under lower control arm, and raise jack to compress coil spring. Position jack as close to outer end of arm as possible,
while leaving clearance for ball joint removal.
5.
Remove ball joint retaining nuts and secure spindle assembly aside, taking care not to stretch brake hose.
6.
Remove rivets securing ball joint to control arm and ball joint.
7.
Position replacement joint on control arm, install retaining bolts and nuts, and torque to 25 ft. lbs.
8.
Install spindle assembly and ball joint retaining nuts, then torque upper nut to 50 ft. lbs. and lower nut to 80 ft. lbs.
9.
Tighten nuts up to an additional 1/16 turn, if necessary, to align holes in ball studs with nuts, then install cotter pins.
