Removing/Saving Lower Ball Joints
 

I recently realized that the NOS lower control arms that I had
installed in my 1970 Camaro LCA's were NOT the Correct (with Tab) Style
for a LEGENDS Quality Restoration.

I have other Control Arms with Correct Original Ball Joints that
Im wanting to remove, restore the cosmetics & install in my
Original LCA's

Ive been instructed to pry off the Dust Boot Retaining Ring.
After soaking the Ball Joint End of Arm in Evaporust and using
KROIL I'm not able to budge the Boot Ring and it will easy to
bend and otherwise destroy it.

How can I press directly upon the threaded stud , as wont it
want to move and not stay straight....

I searched a bit, but couldnt find you tube video that dealt with this.

Thanks

What you are proposing could be done; but it won't be easy.

You still run a risk of damaging the boot ring.

Assuming you have a good hydraulic press.

Spin the nut on top of the stud until it is perfectly flush with the top.

You may need to fab a fixture to place the LCA on to get the stud pointing straight up.

The nut will give you a larger flat surface to press down on.

I realize you didn't ask for any opinions, but are you CERTAIN the ball joints don't have any play in them? My recollection on Camaro lower ball joints are the the factory units were seldom good for more than 40k miles, even with regular maintenance. I replaced my originals because they had some play in them and my car only had 24k miles at the time.

Can someone post pics of the lower ball joint with tab as opposed to the replacement ball joint?

Here is an NOS assembly line correct 70 Camaro lower ball joint with the tab for reference

I've concluded that I need to use old original ball joints as my expert
friends at NastyZ28 say that EBAY NOS Lower & Upper Ball Joints for EARLY 2nd Gen
Camaros are pretty rare to find and then $$$$$$$$$$.

Not my intent to use BAD Joints but I need ORIGINAL correct looking joint
for a trailer queen.

If it is s trailer queen, then some play isn't going to make much difference.

If it is just slightly worn, it really isn't a safety issue.

Good luck.

Removing?Saving Lower Ball Joints
 

Could you possible make up a tab out of the same thickness metal as the ring and have it tack welded, then filed to appear NOS?

I have three....lower control arms (7???) that have the 1st design tab ball joints.
I've soaked all three ENDS in Evaporust
Ive been able to remove ONE of the Dust Cover/Grease Cup Retaining Rings
so my friend can use his ball joint press to remove
The other two Dust Boot Rings I cant budge, so my friend is going to use his
regular press to apply pressure directly to top of stud (with nut on the threads)

To be continued........................

Why don't you just use the old control arms with the ball joints that you're after? If the arms are pitted from rust, there are ways to deal with that.

I would never press on the stud end to get a ball joint out that you are trying to reuse. You risk damaging the joint and causing a catastrophic failure while driving. Even though you may not drive it. next owner might. I'm not preaching here, just a thought of safety. I would just cut the lower control arm to get the joint out if it is too bad to restore, then press in your restored arm. Arms are cheap and easily found.

Scott