Has a 95 2500 4x4 and we are doing the ball joints. I drive fords so am new to the whole chevy front end thing...anyways the top ball joint looks to be part of the whole upper a arm???? Riveted in and non replaceable? Do we have to replace the whole thing?? Sure looks that way....:shaking: Thanks

No, just drill out the rivets. The new ball joint will come with new bolts to take the place of the rivets.

Use (borrow) an air chisel on the rivets- much quicker and easier.

cool.....and about getting them out....they seem to be welded in? Can't budge em even with a puller.

You have to use a shop press to remove them.

or a ball joint removal/installation tool. either air hammer with a flat blade, or a angle grinder to take the rivits off.

I just used a chisel and a BFH to get the rivets out. I'm sure it takes longer than an air chisel but it aint that bad.

To get the ball joints out u shouldn't need a puller. Just hit the side of the knuckle with a hammer and the ball joint should pop right out after a couple solid hits. And get the ball joint out before you chisel/drill the rivets.

Just had the same problem with welded GM ball joint (http://www.replacementgeneralparts.com/gm-ball-joint). My friend told me, it was pressed in by the factory, it appears they brazed or tack welded one spot on the balljoint to the control arm. Just used and air chisel it was much more easier that way...The braze or weld broke cleanly and it was just fine by me...Then we Pressed the new joint in, place the dust boot over it and seat it, place the balljoint stud back in the steering knuckle, and put everything back together... Tomorro we are gonna torque the pinch bolt down to 70 ft/lbs with a click type torque wrench... Hope everthing will be fine...

I use an air chisel to take off the heads of the rivets and use a small pin attachment to push out the rivets with the air hammer. The lowers I use a ball joint press(Big F'ing C-clamp with adapters). Never ran across the welded problem on chevys.