1990 2wd, the upper control arm bushings do not look the best and I was thinking of replacing them when I do the ball joints but they look like a real pain. Looks like have to take the starter off on the rt side, and maybe steering col. or exhaust on left side to clear the control arm studs. Do these studs come out so the control arm can come straight up and off ?

 

Here is the answer Front suspension rebuild project how to--lots of pics - S-10 Forum

 

nah take off the ball joint how you normally would, jack and all, then Crack loose the bolts holding UCA on(they're self lockers and all I had was a stubby 18)theres some shims though br careful, now jam that UCA straight up exposing the studs underneath, they are pressed in but should pop out very easily, mine popped out while I was unscrewing them! The little rusted cover that prevents the bolt from turning can be pried off and hammered back on with a socket once finished, once those bolts are out the UCA practically falls out! 2 days ago I replaced the UCA with Speedway chromolybdenum tubular uppers, half inch longer upper ball joints and I flipped them as well, it fixed the alignment problem from my 3 inch springs and the old arms were on the bumpstops so I gained about another inch or 2

 

Looking at doing my upper's...quicker to get new control arms with bj's already in them?
Seen a set from 1AAuto for $80...worth it?

 

If you need just the ball joints they are not too bad to do, but getting the upper control arm off is a lot more work.