Spirit L6-258 4.2L VIN C 2-bbl (1982)
Ball Joint: Service and Repair
Upper Ball Joint Replacement
UPPER BALL JOINT
1. Position a 2 X 4 X 5 inch block of wood on side sill under upper control arm.
2. Raise vehicle and support at frame side sills.
3. Remove wheel, brake drum, caliper and rotor assembly. When removing caliper do not damage brake tubing or hose. Secure caliper to
frame with wire.
4. Remove cotter pin and retaining nut from upper ball joint stud.
5. Install tool No. J-9656 on ball stud, then using a hammer strike tool to loosen ball stud in steering knuckle.
6. Support lower control arm with a suitable jack.
7. Chisel heads from rivets attaching ball joint to upper control arm, then drive rivets out using a punch.
8. Remove tool from ball stud and ball joint from steering knuckle.
9. Position ball joint on control arm and install nuts and bolts. Torque bolts to 25 ft. lbs.
10. Reverse procedure to assemble. Torque ball joint stud nut to 75 ft. lbs.
LOWER BALL JOINT
Exc. Eagle
1. Position a 2 X 4 X 5 inch block of wood on side sill under upper control arm.
2. Raise vehicle and support at frame side sills.
3. Remove wheel and brake drum or caliper and rotor assembly. When removing caliper do not damage brake tubing or hose. Secure
caliper to frame with wire.
4. Disconnect strut rod from lower control arm and steering arm from steering knuckle.
5. Remove lower ball joint stud cotter pin and retaining nut.
6. Install tool No. 9656 on ball stud, then strike tool with hammer to loosen ball stud in steering knuckle.
7. Support lower control arm with a suitable jack.
8. Chisel heads from rivets attaching ball joint to upper control arm, then drive rivets out using a punch.
9. Remove tool from ball stud and ball joint from steering knuckle and lower control arm.
10. Position ball joint on lower control arm and install attaching bolts loosely.
11. Connect strut to lower control arm and torque bolts to 75 ft. lbs.
12. Torque ball joint to lower control arm attaching bolts to 25 ft. lbs.
13. Lubricate steering stop, then install ball stud on steering knuckle. Torque stud nut to 75 ft. lbs. Install cotter pin.
14. Install wheel and brake drum or caliper and rotor and lower vehicle.
