97 S Kick Ball Joint

[adamant_33]

1997 Sidekick sport 1.8l 5 sp. Lower pasenger side ball joint is bad. Ordered a new one and it came as a bolt in ball joint. So my question does the lower ball joint press in to the lower control arm or must I toss the $$$ ( with bushings about 400.00 in parts alone!) and order the complete lower control arm assembly as the dealer says???? or are there any other options for me? Has anyone out there done this replacement???? does anyone know if you can swap lower control arms with another model that has bolt in ball joints?? Has anyone ever machined the lower control arm to accept the bolt in ball joint?? Could this be done? Would certainly appreciate some responses on this. Thanks to all

[SiKiD_01]

the ball joint is bolted by three bolts to the lower suspension arm. if you undo the 3 bolts underneath the a arm, the ball joint and nuckle will seperate from the lower a arm.

[adamant_33]

Heya Skid!
I AGREE ! Thats what all the info I can read says as well. But since my post I have found out there are two models SV 416 sidekick 1.6 and model SV418 sidekick sport 1.8l Both with two very different ball joint assemblies . I guess what I am asking can the lower control arm assembly from model sv 416( bolt in variety) exchange to the sv 418 (press in variety) ??? The answer to this would be beneficial to many because of the huge cost difference between the two repairs !!

Thanks again for your reply to the original.

[94box]

according to the dealer, no.

94box.