Vintage Thunderbird Club International

[t_birder]

Hey all,
Has any one out there ever replaced their upper ball joints??? If so, do you mind sharing how you removed them from the upper a arm.
Thanks,
Clint

[Alan H. Tast]

It helps to let us know what year we're dealing with as '61-'62 is different from '63. '63 you will need to remove the upper control arm from the car, meaning you'll also need to remove the coil suspension spring (a job in itself). Once the arm is off the car, you'll need to remove the retaining nut and press out the ball joint on a hydraulic press. Installation of the new ball joint will also involve use of a press. Unless you have one in your shop, contact a local parts store or machine shop to find out what they'll charge to press it out and in for you.
_________________
Alan H. Tast, AIA
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"

[ozbird]

I did this on my 62 and if you are just replacing ball joints it's not super difficult or dangerous - suggest you get a Service Manual as it is spelt out with pictures.

You will note it suggests using a special tool, long since extinct but you can just knock the spindles out using a hammer and maybe brass drift.

Once you have the arms free from the spindle, you should see that there are bolts holding the ball joints in place. If its really a low mileage car there may be rivets, the manual describes how to remove and replace.

Here is a link to images of my lower arms, what a mess!!! Looks like the rivets were bashed off with a sledge hammer!

http://www.yamongrel.com/thunderbird/weblowerarms/

Regards Graeme

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1962 Hardtop - in Melbourne, Australia

[redstangbob]

Those cam out with a torch! Rivets should be drilled first, then can be punched through. Get a shop manual and the correct tools ie spring compressors, pickle forks, and BE SAFE! Good luck, Bob C
_________________
It's gonna be cool when it's done
And now it's really cool !!

65 hardtop

[t_birder]

Hey guys,
It's a 1963, and there aren't any rivets or bolts to remove. The ball joint looks like it presses upward into a downward facing cup in the upper controll arm and is held in by a nut on top. I was hoping to find a way to remove it without taking the upper controll arm off. I was thinking if I heated the socket on the upper arm, I might be able to pry it out, but I wanted to check with you guys first.
Clint

[ozbird]

Hi Tbirder,

that points back to what Alan T said in his reply, I have not seen a 63' close up in that area but I was pretty sure the ball joints were held in by 3 bolts or 3 rivets if original.

What does your workshop manual show you? Mine is for a 62 of course so you need to see what the 63 indicates? Suggest you have a good look at the arm again, clean off all the clagged in grease and muck, it may be hiding from you!

Maybe if Alan was correct, you may have to remove the upper arm....do that as a last resort as it is a real killer. Yes, I did it on mine using a specific tbird spring compressor from the 60's, NEVER trust one of those Taiwanese made jobs....in fact don't even think about using one. I can put up a link to pictures of the compressor I used but again....be careful.

Graeme
_________________
1962 Hardtop - in Melbourne, Australia

[tbirder]

Hey there ozbird,
If you don't mind, how about a shot of that spring compressor. It's looking like that's the next tool purchase.
I'm thinking if I have to pull the coils, then I'm just going to completely re do all the front end bushings and such, then I think I'm going to replace the coils with a set of the Shockwave air springs.
Clint

[/img]

[ozbird]

HI Clint,

here is a link to the spring compressor I used, as you can see it's pretty damn big AND old. This was found in the back of a wrecked tbird imported into Australia, possibly the most useful item in fact!

http://www.yamongrel.com/thunderbird/web_compressor/

You sometimes see specific tbird compressors on eBay, you could make one but it has to be very strong and used with care.

I still reckon that the ball joints are mounted using 3 bolts, have you had a chance to check they are there? Removing the springs is a huge job and while you are there have a look at the other items, you are only going to want to go there once in a lifetime!!

cheers Graeme
_________________
1962 Hardtop - in Melbourne, Australia

[rockysvet]

Hi Clint,

When I changed the front coils on my '62 I got the spring compressor from either Checker or Schucks. Couldn't beat the price. Free rental. The only problem I had was I had to go back to them and get a second compressor. The compressor was to short to release the spring load after removed from the car. Takes a lot of sweat and elbow grease but not to hard a job. But those compressed springs are like a bomb with a very very short fuse. The lower pivot plate bushings and bolts were a different story..
Dennis
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40 Chevy
60 T-bird HT
62 T-bird Convt
71 Vet 454

[Alan H. Tast]

'63 is NOT the same as '61-'62. To repeat - the '63 ball joint PRESSES IN the upper control arm. The shock absorber mounting is also completely different from '61-'62.

Can the upper ball joint be removed with the arm in the car? Probably, provided you have the right kind of tools like a ball joint press. I don't know what is available for sale or rental or how they would work, but there may be an old-timer behind the parts/rental counter that may know. However, it probably would be safe to assume that the upper control arm shafts/bushings need to be replaced if there's any huge accumulation of miles and lack of lubrication for the bushings. With that being the case, removal of the upper arm is the best thing you can do. Sure, it's more work, but so's pulling it all apart again to replace the shafts.

The removal of the front springs is DANGEROUS without the proper compressor. I HIGHLY recommend spending your $$$ and taking it to a pro and let them deal with the hassle, rather than run the risk of having a coil spring popping loose and making you a statistic. Save yourself for more-fun things like cleaning and painting the parts.

While I normally would be admonishing a person at this point to get the '62 Shop Manaul and '63 Supplement, the '63 supplement does not do a good job of showing the disassembly of the upper control arm and replacement of the upper ball joint. The '64 shop manual might give a better pictorial on how it all goes together, but the fact remains that you can't compare a '61-'62 to a '63 in terms of how it is assembled.
_________________
Alan H. Tast, AIA
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"

[t_birder]

Hey guys,
Thanks a bunch for all the answers I DIDN'T want to hear.
I was hoping for an easy way out, but it looks like I'll have to pull it the rest of the way down and press them out. Every thing looks good as far as no visible slop or movement in all the bushing areas, but I guess your right, replace em now and not later.
My new KILLER disc brakes come in this week and I wanted to get started on assembly ASAP, but I guess I'll just pry my coils out with a crow bar and replace all my wear parts first.
Any suggestions on the best place to get a full front end rebuild kit? I might as well do all the ball joints and bushings.
Thanks again for all the input.
Clint

by the way, just kidding about the crow bar.

[TsNStangs]

[ozbird]

I have considered putting on air suspension, but...it looks difficult.

Have a look at the following link, some good information there.

http://www.ridetech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3012

regards

Graeme
_________________
1962 Hardtop - in Melbourne, Australia

[sleek63]

Please oh PLEASE... somebody (tbirder?, ozbird?) do the Ridetech/Shockwave set up! For the last year or so, I been eyeing that set up. I too agree -- if you are needing to rebuild the front, perhaps 'bagging it with the recommended front suspension from RideTech would be a viable (modern) solution. Go for it and keep us informed!
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word on the street is... I was conceived in a '63 Bird

[ozbird]

Hi,

did you check the link I posted above, it has a conversion and pictorial about what issues came up and solutions?

regards,

Graeme
_________________
1962 Hardtop - in Melbourne, Australia