Old77’s GMT400 SWB 4x4 5-speed project/DD

[animal]

Oh, there you are. Finally came up for air from sucky face with @animal, eh? You two love birds are so dadgum cute.

aw shucks. I think u is a little peanut butter and jelly

 

[Old77]

aw shucks. I think u is a little peanut butter and jelly

Yes

 

[Old77]

Upper ball joint finally in!!! Universe finally let me make progress on that fourth hole

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Now waiting on batteries to charge so I can do one more round of drilling on 3 of the 4 holes for the lower ball joints! Fingers crossed that the ball joint slips out after the last round of drilling. As if right now, she’s still firmly planted in the arm

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This is a really fun time…….

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Upper ball joint finally in!!! Universe finally let me make progress on that fourth hole

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Now waiting on batteries to charge so I can do one more round of drilling on 3 of the 4 holes for the lower ball joints! Fingers crossed that the ball joint slips out after the last round of drilling. As if right now, she’s still firmly planted in the arm

You must be registered for see images attach

This is a really fun time…….

WOW....I need to do ball joints on my C3500 Crew Cab. Uppers are riveted but it REALLY needs upper control arm bushings so I'm just gonna get new arm assemblies. Lowers on the 2wd are press in. Did the last set of these on the R2500 Burb many years ago. Left side went okay, the right side basically exploded inside the press. Was using the OTC tool, heard a VERY loud bang like a gunshot. Took the tool apart and the BJ was in 4 pieces. Sadly no pictures, way before I had a smartphone, but it was quite spectacular to see.

 

[Old77]

WOW....I need to do ball joints on my C3500 Crew Cab. Uppers are riveted but it REALLY needs upper control arm bushings so I'm just gonna get new arm assemblies. Lowers on the 2wd are press in. Did the last set of these on the R2500 Burb many years ago. Left side went okay, the right side basically exploded inside the press. Was using the OTC tool, heard a VERY loud bang like a gunshot. Took the tool apart and the BJ was in 4 pieces. Sadly no pictures, way before I had a smartphone, but it was quite spectacular to see.

Yeah, I only went this route on the uppers cuz the ball joints came with the truck. I told myself that if today I didn’t get the uppers done I was buying an upper arm tomorrow and moving on. Just didn’t want to spend the extra $150.

I REALLY wish they made loaded lower arms for these K1500s but they don’t I did some YouTubing and every vid I found the dude had the ball joint just slide out easy peasy. Well, this lower ball joint ain’t even wiggly so I have a feeling it’s gonna fight me even after I’m done drilling……still waiting on batteries to charge…..

 

[TotalyHucked]

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[89Suburban]

Yeah, I only went this route on the uppers cuz the ball joints came with the truck. I told myself that if today I didn’t get the uppers done I was buying an upper arm tomorrow and moving on. Just didn’t want to spend the extra $150.

I REALLY wish they made loaded lower arms for these K1500s but they don’t I did some YouTubing and every vid I found the dude had the ball joint just slide out easy peasy. Well, this lower ball joint ain’t even wiggly so I have a feeling it’s gonna fight me even after I’m done drilling……still waiting on batteries to charge…..

Big guy stuff, you out of your league little one.

 

[Old77]

Big guy stuff, you out of your league little one.

Please come teach me your wise ways Mr. King of the Self Tappers

 

[legopnuematic]

I’m not familiar with how the lower ball joints are configured on those trucks, does the control arm have a ‘pocket’ for the joint to slot into? Where both sides of the joint are touching control arm?

I’d probably go carbide burr on die grinder to whittle away the rivets just below the parting line until you can remove the old joint, no need to go all the way through.

Also, I have found in my own rivet removing fun, that drilling thru doesn’t seem to be of much help in removing them. At least with the next move being knocking out with a punch. I’ll drill just past the head, knock the head off with a chisel, then punch seated in the drilled hole. Make sure it doesn’t hit the sides of the rivet as you can end up upsetting the rivet agin, making it harder to get out. With the part braced a couple of good swings should see some movement. YMMV.

 

[Old77]

I’m not familiar with how the lower ball joints are configured on those trucks, does the control arm have a ‘pocket’ for the joint to slot into? Where both sides of the joint are touching control arm?

I’d probably go carbide burr on die grinder to whittle away the rivets just below the parting line until you can remove the old joint, no need to go all the way through.

Also, I have found in my own rivet removing fun, that drilling thru doesn’t seem to be of much help in removing them. At least with the next move being knocking out with a punch. I’ll drill just past the head, knock the head off with a chisel, then punch seated in the drilled hole. Make sure it doesn’t hit the sides of the rivet as you can end up upsetting the rivet agin, making it harder to get out. With the part braced a couple of good swings should see some movement. YMMV.

Yes, the lower ball joint slides into a pocket of sorts in there. Your carbide burr idea may be a good one. I'll keep that in mind as I conitnue to work through this thing. I'm going to attack it again as soon as I get home tonight and I'm not finishing until the truck is back together tonight unless something catastrophic happens. I'm determined to get her licensed tomorrow.

The route you speak of with the rivets is exactly the method I tried from the get go on both top and bottom and neither method worked this go around. I've done that knock off the head of the rivet and pound it out numerous times on other vehicles in the past and it's always worked but this truck isn't having that at all. Not sure if it's the 233k miles or the 33 years that is the difference maker but this job has certain kicked my butt.

Fingers crossed.....

 

[TotalyHucked]

It's neither of those things. It's mad at you for not just letting it die

 

[Old77]

It's neither of those things. It's mad at you for not just letting it die

This thing is getting a new life to be a nice truck again. It should be grateful! Either it'll play nice or I'm setting it on fire and walking away

 

[idahovette]

Insurance paid???

 

[legopnuematic]

Every problem has a solution:

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Or coil springs and link suspension…

 

[Old77]

Insurance paid???

lol nope