How hard is it to install the ball joint back into the control arm? I've done it before on my Sentra and it was very straight forward. I just took a 2-3 pound sledge and hammered it back in, stuck the snap ring on it and away I went. Anyone install them with the arm on the car? (Just asking for reference)

 

I used a press at work to push the maxima ones out. Not sure how easy it would be to hammer them out and new ones back in. But it's the same design, snap ring holds them in along with the press fit

 

It is quite an elaborate exercise (having done it on my maxima). You will need to rent the right tools like the press and snap ring pliers to get the snap ring in place after pressing the balljoint into the control arm. One useful tip on the web was to freeze the balljoint overnight before installation, this enables pressing a lot easier.

 

You could rent the tools at Auto Zone/Kragen etc, it wasn't to bad to do. GL with yours.

 

yup had my 2k2 on jack stands in my driveway doing them..use moogs if you do replace them..and def. get the right tools dont use a hammer. you want to make sure the ball joint goes in as straight as possible into the lower control arm..i had to use a ball joint press basically a big c-clamp modified to hold/push the ball joint in..it wasnt any fun layin on the ground having to thread the ball joint press in to push the ball joint into the c/a but it worked..you will not like putting these in with a hammer/sledge..i suggest since your under there if you havent replaced the sway bar end links do so

 

ball joint? i think i replaced the whole shebang, not sure what it's called but it runs from the transmission(AT) to the CV joint bolt. was pretty easy. FSM got me stuck since it explains every single parts, I went to NAPA and bought the one that's plug and play. It's like the whole arm.

 

Sounds like you're talking about the axle, which isn't related to the balljoint in any way.

The LCA is what people replace that come complete with bushings and balljoints. The LCA doesn't touch the trans, so you can't be talking about that...

 

its 39101 that i replaced.



Thats LCA?

 

No, that's the axle, which has nothing to do with the balljoint.

 

k now im confused, wheres the balljoint? how about CV? what does CV stands for?

sorry im using the OP thread to learn some stuff

 

Constant Velocity Joints

 

Indeed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint

The balljoint is the tip of the LCA, it allows the knuckle to spin around so you can steer and allows the LCA and knuckle to move up and down with suspension movement.

 

Here's what is looks like on Maxima LCAs. Its the bottom part of the picture with the nut and pin going threw it.

 

I've installed a new balljoint without removing the arm using a BFH.