Chevrolet 1980 Light Duty Truck Service Manual page 286

3C -20 FRONT SUSPENSION
R E M O VE
UPPER
J - 2 3 7 4 2 ,
Fig. 3C-27~Disconnecting Ball Joints-Typical
2. Install spring and control arm as outlined under
spring installation.
3. Torque lower control arm ball stud to specifications
and install cotter pin.
4. Install brake caliper assembly if removed (see
section 5).
5. Lower the vehicle to the floor.
BALL JO IN T SERVICE-O N VEHICLE
Ball Joint-lnspection
The upper ball stud is spring loaded in its socket. This
minimizes looseness at this point and compensates for
normal wear, if the upper stud has any perceptible lateral
shake, or if it can be twisted in its socket with the fingers,
the upper ball joint should be replaced.
Upper-Removal
1. Raise vehicle on hoist. If a frame hoist is used, it
will be necessary to support the lower control arm with a
floor jack.
2. Remove cotter pin from upper ball stud and loosen
stud nut (two turns) but do not remove nut.
3. Install J-23742 between the ball studs as shown in
Figure 3C-27.
It is necessary to remove the brake caliper assembly
and wire it to the frame to gain clearance for tool J-23742.
See section 5 for the proper procedure.
4. Be sure lower control arm is supported as pointed
out in step 1. Extend bolt from Tool J-23742 to loosen ball
stud in steering knuckle. When stud is loose, remove tool
and stud nut.
5. Center punch rivet heads and drill out rivets.
6. Remove the ball joint assembly.
Installation
See NOTICE on page 1 of this section
NOTICE:
regarding the fasteners referred to in steps 1, 3 and 6.
1. Install new service ball joint, using bolts and nuts
supplied with joint, to upper arm. Torque nuts to 60 N*m
(45 ft. lbs.).
RE M O V E
LO W ER
H E A V Y
FLAT
W A S H E R
J-23742
nut.
torque to align cotter pin not to exceed 120 N • m (90 ft. lbs.).
Never back off to align cotter pin.
additional torque to align cotter pin not to exceed 175 N*m
(130 ft. lbs.) Never back off to align cotter pin.
section 5).
Ball Joint-lnspection
Lower
the steering knuckle. Wear may be checked without
disassembling the ball stud, as follows:
drum.
stud and tip of grease fitting below ball joint.
and drum to hang free. Measure distance as in Step 2. If
the difference in measurements exceeds 2.38 mm (.094" (3 /
Fig. 3C -28--C otter Pin In sta lla tio n
2. Mate ball stud to steering knuckle and install stud
3. Torque the ball stud nut as follows:
A. 10 Series 54-80 N • m (40-60 ft. lbs.) plus additional
B. 20-30 Series 110-140 N-m (80-100 ft. lbs.) plus
4. Install new cotter pin as shown in Figure 3C-28.
5. Install lube fitting and lube new joint.
6. Install brake caliper assembly if removed (see
7. Install tire and wheel assembly.
8. Lower the vehicle to the floor.
Lower ball joints are a loose fit when not connected to
1. Support weight of control arms at wheel hub and
2. Accurately measure distance between tip of ball
3. Move support to control arm to allow wheel hub
Fig. 3 C -29--C hecking Low er Ball Join t
LIG H T T R U C K S E R V IC E M ANUAL