I got new upper ball joints and idler arm that I'm going to put in the truck today, I just wanted to know if anyone has done this and might have any tips to save me some time. I've done the lowers before, but not the uppers, they look pretty much the same, only the upper is smaller. Do I have to heat the idler arm to remove it?? Any help is greatly appreciated ;)

Good luck. I hope you have a heated garage to do this in! Anyways, the ball joints are pretty much the same and should come off with a little persuasion. I have no idea why, but some people have told me to stay away from heat. When I did my idler arm, I got lucky and it came right off. Just be patient.

Sweet, I'll hope for the same luck, and I do have access to a heated garage, its snowing like crazy here!

You won't have to heat it. Just use a pitman arm puller or a tie rod knocker. Heat will F/up the pivot shaft. Get a good sharp chisel to cut the rivets on the ball joints. An air hammer is even better.

TDG, where in Ontario are you? I am up in Sault Ste. Marie now. My profile says Indianapolis, but Ialso live here too.

Replace the Idler Arm Pivot and you will only have to separate it from the center link. Then unbolt it from the chassis.

I drilled my rivets for the uppers, soft metal, less than 10min per side. My idler arm came right off without too much hassle once the nut was loose all I had to do is tap the idler bolt with a hammer, I didn't have to beat on the thing the vibration of the light hits relased the tappered bolt. I didn'y have much fun with the pitman arm, but it still didn't take very long, just not much room for the removal fork.

I got her all put back together now, the first ball joint took almost 2hrs, second took about 20min since I already had all my tools out and had a much better idea how to do it. I really could have used some help with the idler arm though...I made a big mistake and didn't take the nut completely off before I unseated the arm from the tapered shaft...makes it real tough to take the nut off, and hard to get the idler arm bolt out when its just dangling like that...oh well, its all done now, still not 100%, but atleast 100% better!

I got her all put back together now, the first ball joint took almost 2hrs, second took about 20min since I already had all my tools out and had a much better idea how to do it. I really could have used some help with the idler arm though...I made a big mistake and didn't take the nut completely off before I unseated the arm from the tapered shaft...makes it real tough to take the nut off, and hard to get the idler arm bolt out when its just dangling like that...oh well, its all done now, still not 100%, but atleast 100% better!
How hard were the lower ball joints?


What tools did you use?

Carey

I haven't done the lowers on this truck, the uppers were shot but lowers seem OK. I did the lowers on a 3/4ton a couple years ago. Takes a little more time, but same idea. Chisel or grind the tops of the rivets off, drill a hole in them with an 1/8" bit, then enlarge it with a 1/4". The rivets are very soft, but drilling a hole in the middle makes it a lot easier to punch them out. I don't remember having any trouble unseating the joint from the wheel though, but I do think you have to remove the half shaft to get to it.

TDG, I think the lower ball joints on the 1/2 tons are pressed in not rivited like the 3/4+. If you buy the ball joints at Autozone They'll loan you the tool to press them in if they have it. Let me know how the lowers go I've been putting off replacing mine waiting for better weather.

The lowers I have done on 1/2 tons were all installed with rivets, and replaced with bolts

The K3500 my Dad drives has the pressed in lower ball joint. It's a heck of a lot easier than changing the rivited lowers for the first time.

The K3500 my Dad drives has the pressed in lower ball joint. It's a heck of a lot easier than changing the rivited lowers for the first time.
Mine is a 97 K3500 so I guess it's has them pressed in.

So I'll need to get a ball joint press to get them out.

Thanks

Carey

My 97 K3500 has pressed in joints too. I changed them the first time without a press. For the second round I bought an OTC press. Best money I ever spent.