Putting in new upper ball joints in my 98 4x4. Does it matter if the nuts are on the top or the bottom? Came out of the box with the nuts on top. Do I need lock washers, they didn't come with any? Thanks

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_anBt8yyq8 this video is for the lower on a 99 4x4 but is very similar and i found it helpful good luck

 

Good vid! Thanks for posting this, ill be doing all 4 ball joints and 2 wheel hubs this weekend if the parts come in by then.

 

I should have done it sooner.

 

thats bad! and I thought my ball joint was bad, luckily you didn't wreck. I put my nuts facing up so they were out of the way. I recommend getting moog they are a little pricy but well worth the money.

 

So I decided to knock these out this week while the front end is apart for a locker install and CV Axle job. I had the original riveted ball joints in and I've done everything I can think of to break them loose- ground down the rivets to the control arm, drilled into the rivet body, pounded and pryed every which way I can get something on them and they aren't budging one bit. Is there some special trick to these? It seems like mine were welded on instead of riveted.

 

the guy at advance auto said I'd have to take a grinder wheel to the rivets and then drill the holes out. my rivets must have popped out while I was driving so my install was easy.

 

I just did this last week end. Its a pain in the a$$ but just keep pounding with a punch. I also have a air hammer with a chisel that helped get the rivets off, and i drilled them too. Its alot of work but just keep pounding, the bottem one was the easiest you can get between the control arm and ball joint and just pry it off. I had the most trouble with the top. If you have an air hammer i had the best luck with that, put it between the control arm and have at it. Hope this helps.

 

Well about 5 minutes after I posted that last night, I got a little further with the drill and broke one loose with my 4lb minisledge and a punch. The other side is drilled more so it shouldn't be as bad when I get to it later today. Did you guys use thread locking compound on the new bolts when you installed the new ones? I noticed the threads provide a lot of resistance when I tightened them down.

 

Just finished up my front end. Did gear box, pitman arm, idler arm ball joints, end links and control arm bushings. This forum is a great source of information. Thanks for all the help and info.