How do i change the lower Ball Joints on my 98 neon ?

i looked at it and i think i can do it myself instead of takeing it somewhere .|||you can do it yourself but special tools are required.





Service and Repair


Notes





REMOVAL





1. Using a screw driver or other suitable tool, pry seal boot off of ball joint assembly.





2. Position Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758, or equivalent to support lower control arm while receiving ball joint assembly. Install Remover/Installer, Special Tool 6804, or equivalent in top of ball joint assembly.


3. Using arbor press, press ball joint assembly completely out of lower control arm.





CAUTION: When installing ball joint in its mounting hole in lower control arm, position ball joint so notch in ball joint stud is facing the front lower control arm bushing. This will ease assembly of ball joint to steering knuckle when attempting to install pinch bolt.





INSTALLATION





1. By hand, position ball joint assembly into ball joint bore of lower control arm. Be sure ball joint assembly is not ****** in the bore of the control arm, this will cause binding of the ball joint assembly, when being pressed into lower control arm.





2. Position assembly in an arbor press with Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758, or equivalent supporting lower control arm. Then install Remover/Installer, Special Tool 6804, or equivalent on the bottom of the ball joint assembly.


3. Carefully align all pieces. Using the arbor press apply pressure against ball joint assembly, until ball joint is fully seated against bottom surface of lower control arm. Do not apply excessive pressure against ball joint and lower control arm.


4. Install a NEW ball joint assembly sealing boot on ball joint assembly. Install sealing boot as far as possible on ball joint assembly. CAUTION: Do not use an arbor press to install the sealing boot on the lower control arm ball joint assembly. Damage to the sealing boot can occur do to excessive pressure applied to sealing boot when being installed.





5. Position Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758, or equivalent over sealing boot so it is aligned properly with bottom edge of sealing boot. Apply pressure BY HAND to special tool 6758, or equivalent until sealing boot is pressed squarely against top surface of lower control arm.|||with care take a look most are rib it in you will either have to grind and chisel you most time its three and remove the large nut off the bottom/top you need a jack there is some presure so you must be careful what take off a big hammer and atool called crows foot remove nut and beat it|||Rent the tool(ball joint press) get amanual on how to do the job, either have an air compressor and a 1/2%26quot; impact with a socket that fits the ball joint tool or have some good size arms.





I can tell you from doing them that ball joints are probably one of the best values in labor you%26#039;ll find in auto repair.





The guy at the shop will do it 1 hour a side, probably charge you 2 hours per side ( you pay by a flat rate fee)(not the actual time taken)(if your upset by that think if it tokk 4 hours a side)(you want a price upfront so we use a flat rate).





Best to have a car lift, special tools, air compressor and patience, they are PRESSED in TIGHTLY!!!!!





By the time you rent the tools and do the job you%26#039;ve wasted a whole day and if you get it wrong, (MOST major suspension component) you may have an accident with no one to fault.|||You can. Buy the Haynes or Chilton manual to help you.|||WITH THE TIME WASTED AND THE TOOLS THAT YOU WILL NEED, JUST HAVE A SHOP DO IT FOR YOU AND IT WILL BE A LOT SAFER.