Aerio ball joint replacement?

jljbtm · 06-25-2009, 06:45 PM

Has anyone replaced the left one ours is found to be loose but only on the left side. The part stores and Dealer say you have to replace the control arm and it comes with the ball joint. I see two large bolts at the rear of the control arm and then the ball joint bolt itself, is that it????

Thanks , Jack

lumpylarry · 06-25-2009, 09:30 PM

there's the ball joint, rear bushing (vertical bolt) and front bushing (horizontal bolt)in my experience, 9 out of 10, the bolts are seized to the inner sleeve of the bushings, requires alot of torch work, and new bolt..some years have the stabalizer link go through the arm as well..

jljbtm · 06-25-2009, 10:22 PM

hey lumpylarry thanks for the reply.
Ya know I was thinking the same thing as I lay under the car looking at these two bolts and thinking just what are they threaded into (sheet metal eeegh i hope not).
So just where do you apply the heat???

lumpylarry · 06-25-2009, 11:26 PM

i usually end up cutting the control arm around the busshings, remove the rubber, and heat the inside sleeve enough to get the bolt out. they dont seize into the threads but the inner sleeve of the bushing. its messy and smelly and you need a second person to put the fire out when the rubber catches on fire..id suggest first soak them really well in penetrating fluid overnight. then try getting the bolts loose..

jljbtm · 06-26-2009, 08:53 AM

ahhh, good to know.
Thanks

jljbtm · 06-27-2009, 01:13 PM

Well I soaked 'em overnight, vibrating them with an air chisel, soaking some more and I can see the front (horizontal one) moving. But not the vertical one.
I had to order the parts so I have a couple days to work on it.