How to Replace a Ball Joint on an S-10

The Chevy S-10 truck uses two ball joints on each of the front wheels. Replacing either one of them is not an easy task. In most cases, it is possible change the upper ball joint yourself. You can remove the lower control arm with its ball joint, but the joint itself must be changed professionally. In either case, the exact replacement varies depending on the year, so check with your mechanic.

Instructions

Upper Control Arm

1

Raise the truck with its floor jack and support its front end on jack stands. Remove the wheel for the ball joint and control arm you are working on by removing its lug nuts with the tire iron.

2

Remove the guide pin bolts for the brake caliper bolts with a wrench and remove the caliper from the disc. Tie up the caliper somewhere with a strong wire--don't let it hang by the hose. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor and remove its wiring from the control arm.

3

Bend and pull out the ball joint's cotter pin, then rotate the nut by two turns counterclockwise with a wrench to back it off the joint.

4

Place a jack or jack stand under the lower control arm and raise the jack with its crank to compress the spring slightly.

5

Press the ball joint out of the steering knuckle using a ball joint separator tool.

6

Drill out the rivets from the top of the ball joint using a power drill, and remove the joint. Clean the control arm using acetone or lacquer thinner and clean rags.

7

Install the replacement ball joint against the control arm's mating surface, and use your wrench to secure it with the bolts and nuts that should come with the joint. Proceed to Section 3.

Lower Control Arm

8

Raise the truck's front end with its jack, support it on jack stands and remove the wheel with the tire iron.

9

Remove the shock absorber--loosen and remove its nuts and bolts with the wrench, and carefully lower it out of the fender well. Remove the nuts for the stabilizer bar with the wrench and disconnect it from the lower control arm.

10

Separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle, as described in Section 1.

11

Reconnect the control arm to the stabilizer bar after having the ball joint changed by a professional--connect it with the nuts for the stabilizer bar using the wrench.

12

Install and reconnect the shock absorber using its mounting nuts and the wrench.

Both Control Arms - After Changing

13

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle using the pivot nuts, but don't tighten the pivot nuts all the way until after you lower the truck and it is back at normal riding height.

14

Install a new cotter pin by sliding it into the opening in the castellated nut that the old cotter pin was in. If the pin won't fit, tighten the nut until you can insert the pin.

15

Reconnect the wheels and lower the truck.

16

Take the truck to the dealer service department or an alignment shop to have the front alignment checked.