Front end woes... Need advice of the wise ones

[Pappibri]

Ok people. I need advice on my front end. Tires wobble when going over bumps. Jacked up front end and the drivers side is tight side to side, but up and down there is significant play when pushing in at the top. The passenger side is tight side to side, but top and bottom when pulling on the top and pushing at the bottom, I have major play. See videos. I think on the drivers side it is the upper ball joint, and on the passenger side, I think it is the lower. If I am correct, how big of a pain in the butt is the lower to do.

Drivers side. https://youtu.be/HzB0q_ikD0M Passengers side... https://youtu.be/Ham6Btqo39s



Thanks for looking and the input guys.....

 

[adventr]

For the upper ball joint, you just replace the entire control arm. This will also get you nice new control arm bushings already installed (you probably need those too).

For the lower, the ball joint is replaceable separately. You probably need new lower control arm bushings as well (I know mine does and my ball joints are still nice and tight).

However, when I do mine, I'm just going to replace the entire lower control arms too. Comes already loaded up with new bushings and ball joint (lots of labor involved if you just want to replace bushings...)


GMPartsDirect lists the lower ball joints at $64 each. They also list lower control arm bushings at $16.32 each, and you need 2x of those.

OR..... they list the entire new lower control with balljoint and bushings already installed for $149. It's a no brainer there!

They also show upper control arms to be $150.53.

 

[Pappibri]

But how hard is the lower to change. There is alot of stuff connected to it, and the torsion bar as well. I am ok mechanically, but no mechanic

 

[08H3]

But how hard is the lower to change. There is alot of stuff connected to it, and the torsion bar as well. I am ok mechanically, but no mechanic

I did it and I'm not mechanically gifted so I'd say it's probable within most people's abilities.

 

[digglesworth]

Lower is easy with a ball joint press... You can rent them at most auto part stores.

 

[woodwardsh3]

For the upper ball joint, you just replace the entire control arm. This will also get you nice new control arm bushings already installed (you probably need those too).

For the lower, the ball joint is replaceable separately. You probably need new lower control arm bushings as well (I know mine does and my ball joints are still nice and tight).

However, when I do mine, I'm just going to replace the entire lower control arms too. Comes already loaded up with new bushings and ball joint (lots of labor involved if you just want to replace bushings...)


GMPartsDirect lists the lower ball joints at $64 each. They also list lower control arm bushings at $16.32 each, and you need 2x of those.

OR..... they list the entire new lower control with balljoint and bushings already installed for $149. It's a no brainer there!

They also show upper control arms to be $150.53.

This is good to know and would be the best way to do it and it would last another 100000 miles

 

[adventr]

This is good to know and would be the best way to do it and it would last another 100000 miles

Yeah, exactly. I've dealt with chevy IFS control arm bushings in the past (burning old ones out and pressing new ones in place), and I'll gladly spend a little extra to not have to deal with that again!


FYI, these are the GM part numbers for my 2009 H3 (I believe these are the same for all H3s, but not 100% positive):


Left Upper Control Arm - 15082974
Left Lower Control Arm - 15082976

Right Upper Control Arm - 15082975
Right Lower Control Arm - 15082977

 

[alrock]

Lower ball joint replacement is easy and can be done with the lca o the truck. If you buy a new lca you still have to press the rear bushing out of the frame, and it's an annoying job. I'm in the camp that since I still have to do a lot of the work with a new lca, I will save the money and either do a new ball joint or I will do bushings and ball joint together. Sometimes the shipping on the lca is expensive too