Ball joint inspection time, be safe friends

[Molson02536]

Second gen blazers the checking procedure is as follows:

UPPER BALL JOINT CHECKING

1. Raise and support vehicle with jack stand under lower control arm, near lower ball joint. Ensure upper control arm bumper does not contact frame. Place dial indicator against lower part of wheel rim. Push in on bottom of tire while pulling outward at top. Read dial indicator, then reverse push/pull procedure.

2. If lateral (horizontal) deflection exceeds .125 (3.18 mm), replace ball joint. With ball joint disconnected from steering knuckle, try to rotate ball joint by finger pressure. If ball joint can be rotated by finger pressure , replace ball joint.


LOWER BALL JOINT CHECKING

Raise and support vehicle with jack stand under lower control arm, near lower ball joint. Place dial indicator on spindle hub. Pry wheel between lower control arm and outer race to measure vertical movement. Note: dial indicator reading. If reading exceeds .125 (3.18 mm), replace loose ball joint.

Don't for get to also check your steering linkage also for excessive play also, be safe and enjoy another season of winter fun around the corner.

 

[threecar]

When I recently had the lowers done the mechanic took me in the shop and showed me that there was some play in the steering linkage. He said most likely i would need a new idler and maybe a new pitman. How long would it take for a mechanic to replace both of these parts? Looking to see how much this is going to cost.

 

[Molson02536]

When I recently had the lowers done the mechanic took me in the shop and showed me that there was some play in the steering linkage. He said most likely i would need a new idler and maybe a new pitman. How long would it take for a mechanic to replace both of these parts? Looking to see how much this is going to cost.

Idler arm takes about 30 min to replace and you can do that your self with a 5Lbs sledge hammer and a Pickle Fork. http://www.jtoutfitters.com/puller-...tml?invis=0&osCsid=tfdjdrani765323h4rq4tdaue6

Just make sure you take the right measurements on the location of the old idler arm, so when you install the new idler arm. It will match up and you will not have any steering issues.

The Pitman arm will take longer to replace, You have to remove the steering box from the frame and disconnect the Pitman arm from the center link to remove the steering box. Once the steering box has been removed, you can then place the pitman arm puller between the steering sector and the pitman arm. Turn the puller nut clockwise with a 15/16 inch box-end wrench until the pitman arm is loose from the shaft. Tap the pitman arm lightly with a hammer if it will not dislodge from the shaft after using the puller.

The good news is that the pitman arm will most likely be still good, it's the idler arm that goes bad in most cases. You can check this by turning the passenger front wheel by hand and inspecting the play the idler arm has vertical. If there is excessive up and down motion when you try to turn the front wheel left to right, replace the idler arm and same goes with the pitman arm.

Good luck and keep us posted and this should not take any more the 3 hours with a wheel alignment.

 

[threecar]

Thanks. I will refer to this info when I ask them to give me a price. Maybe I will end up doing the idler myself if I have time ( 1/2 hour to a pro is like 4 for me) and just get the alignment done.

 

[Molson02536]

Thanks. I will refer to this info when I ask them to give me a price. Maybe I will end up doing the idler myself if I have time ( 1/2 hour to a pro is like 4 for me) and just get the alignment done.

A good alignment shop can install your new idler arm and should only cast you an extra 30 min of labor on top of the alignment charge. use OEM or http://www.summitracing.com/search/...ine/Moog-Replacement-Idler-Arms/?autoview=SKU.

Be safe and keep us posted, oh and if you do take it to a alignment shop. They will inspect all your front steering component and suspension as the rear to be able to align your wheel. Any worn part, and they can not do a proper alignment. Most shops here will not charge for the inspection and if you have worn part that need to be replaced, they will not align the wheels till the part is replaced by them or your self.