Upper Ball Joint - RIVETED?

CrowBar · #1 (**permalink**) 04-17-2004, 06:27 AM

Since I am relatively new to Alfas, forgive my confusion.

After receiving my new upper ball joints from IAP, I began work only to find that the current joints are riveted into the upper link. Was this suspension made by a village smithy on an anvil??

So, I am wondering if anyone has ever replaced their ball joints and what they had to do to remove the old one and install the new one....I.E., can tempered steel nuts and bolts replace the rivets?

--CB

CZDAlfa · #2 (**permalink**) 04-17-2004, 06:59 PM

Well...I'll give it a go! (Going from other vehicle experience, not Alfa, but should be about the same...your mileage may vary

.) If they are riveted, center punch the rivets, use a smaller pilot drill bit to start a hole then use a larger one (you want one big enough to take the head of the rivet off, in a perfect world you want one the same size as the shank of the rivet), you might have to use a cold chisel to get the heads off. After they are off punch them out from the top, a piece of pipe or a socket bigger than the head of the rivet to support the bottom sometimes helps. To put the new one back in, bolts are fine. Although, they will need to be a high strength bolt and it doesn't hurt to use a thread locker on the bolts. Chevy as well as other makes use this same type of fastening on the older model cars. Most of the aftermarket manufactures usually include the bolts with the replacement ball joint. Like I said, your mileage may vary, as in it could be different somewhat, but this may help some. Anyone feel free to clear it up if this doesn't sound correct!

Chuck.

nizam · #3 (**permalink**) 04-17-2004, 09:14 PM

CZDAlfa is right, just drill out the rivets and put some grade-8 nuts and bolts in there (I think I used M8x1.25) and secure with red loctite.

While I do have a rivet gun, I decided to use the bolts instead because next time, it'll be much easier!

CrowBar · #4 (**permalink**) 04-18-2004, 07:17 AM

Thank you both. I will give it a shot next week. Anything is better than having the ball pop out of the socket at 90 mph.

IAP didn't include bolts which is what threw me off.

THx
-CB