The factory front upper control arms seem to have a non replaceable ball joint pressed in. Looking around the interwebs there seems to be competing ideas. Many sources seem to say you need to replace the whole arm with the ball joint installed, others suggest you can replace the ball joint. Looking for parts, almost all of the available upper ball joints have that asymmetric design and bolt on. I'm looking for anyone who has actually replaced the ball joints with pressed in units. :-)

 

Everything I've seen when researching this exact subject has said that the thin sheet metal tends to stretch when you press out and in new ball joints. And then the joint isn't secure after due to the deformation of the metal.

That's why the replaceable upper ball joints are all bolt on style for after market arms. There have been too many problems with attempted ball joint replacement on OEM arms.

If you are staying OEM, new arms. If you are going after market, you can do replaceable depending on the arm.

 

Thanks TomCat, that's the direction my mind was going, but I like OEM parts and wanted to at least stay with the real deal for the arms even if I was replacing the ball joint with an aftermarket part. Most of the non-adjustable arms I've seen look pretty cheap. I don't really need adjustable and I don't trust most of those slotted bolt-on ball joints. I guess I'll probably go with the OEM style of aftermarket and take my chances that I get a decent quality part.

 

yea I just replaced my all my lower ball joints and couldn’t find a way to get the ball joint off the upper so I figure it just replaced the whole assembly.

it’s less headache and easier just to do the whole upper arm.

 

If it's that important to you, why not buy OE upper control arms?

 

I wouldn't risk it...just get the whole arm. It'll even come with new bushings.