How to I remove and replace the top ball joint on the driver side.

The OEM ball joint is riveted into the upper control arm. There are two possible ways to replace the joint. You can purchase the entire upper control arm/ball joint assembly, which comes complete with the upper control arm bushings. This part costs about $150.00. You will also have to deal with the coil spring when replacing it this way. You can also buy just the ball joint for about $30.00. This will require that you drill out the rivets of the original ball joint and then bolt in the replacement with the bolts that are provided with it. The 2WD and 4WD versions are the same. See this link.


http://www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/ball-joint-upper/gmc/sonoma-4wd/1994/6-cylinders-z-4-3l-tbi

remove axle nut, remove lower ball joint nut, pop drive shaft loose with punch or wood dowel , pop lower ball join from knuckle pull up push axle out of knuckle , pull back knuckle and tie in place pop out axle with big screwdriver or pry bar ,remove seal replace.

OK< ball joints, they are sometimes bolted on, I hope yours is, you have to get in there to see, But you will also need the parts first, when you buy the ball joint, you will know what you got, either welded to the arm or bolted, then you can take off the arm or the ball joint. Either way, it should be no problem getting the thing off, get the car up, wheel off, don't get your legs under there, get dirty, and you might need another bottle jack to lift up the arm to get the bolts on. Check it out. Hope this helps.

unbolt it and get hold of a "PICKLE-FORK" to drive the 2 pieces apart,they sell them at most auto parts outlets

You need to hit the controll arm right where the ball joint goes through. You will need to hit it very hard. This will pop it out.

Lift the passenger side of vehicle. Remove tire/wheel assembly. Remove the axle nut. Remove the tie rod end nut. Smack the side of the housing the tie rod end goes into to pop the tie rod end loose and out. Remove the sway bar link. Remove the lower ball joint nut. Smack the housing the lower ball joint goes into to pop the ball joint loose. Pry the lower control arm down to pop the ball joint out. swivel the rotor and strut assembly to the side. Pop the axle out. Reassemble in the reverse order.

Take wheel off, loosen crown *king nut with cotter pin*, use crow bar and hammer to to pop ball joint out, or use jack stand or another jack put on wheel hub and lower van. The weight of the vechile will pop it out for you. Use grinding wheel to remove rivits or whatever holds the ball joint on. Use punch to pop them out after head is removed, and you should be able to pop ball joint out. Install new joint and install rest of the components. Making sure to use a new cotter pin in crown nut.

It sounds like a bad boot either on the drivers side or passenger. Look at all the rubber boots and make sure they are not damaged are torn off. If it is it may be contaminated with dirts causing it to pop and jolt.

I think the lower ball joints when removing will give you easier access to the top. I would suggest going to the local parts store for a print out of the procedure to be on the safe side.

you have to get a ball joint seperator, remove the retaing pin, and then the nut, put the seperator between the ball joint and the mount, use a hammer and hit the end of the seperator with the hammer, this will pop it loose, then take a large crow bar and push down on the control arm, this will free it from the arm... use a drill with a 1/2" bit to drill the rivets out of the top of the ball joint....

the new ball joint with come with nuts and bolts to bolt the new one down....

slide the ball joint back into the arm, and put the nut on and tighten as much as you can, then replace the retaining pin.....