Projects Ball joints on mustang 2 replacements

I was working on the 51 chevy today and notice since I am getting ready to bag it the upper and lower control arms ball johns are all busted up, boots are ripped off. Can I just go to a local auto store and ask for replacements if so what do I ask or where can I get them. I just went and looked at them and they are like big square nuts with a grease ******

 

if they are stock arms,mustang ll 74-78 or pinto 74-80 if they are aftermarket tubular arms most use 68-88 chrylser ball joints..hope it helps

 

AND.. if they are stock arms.. it may actually be cheaper to buy new arms than a rebuild kit.. its likely that if you need ball joints that the cross shafts may need bushings.

 

Got the same issue with my "Speedway" tubular control arms for my Must,ll front end.
The boots are either torn or wont stay seated in the arms.
What give?

 

What gives is cheap overseas made parts. The boots won't last the mock-up phase.

 

My boots are tore up too on my truck, that's been a project for a long time but still. Do they make a rubber replacement boot ?

 

Energy Suspension makes some, out of urethane (or similar). They last if not bound, look funky and get damaged with a lot of movement, like a bagged/slammed deal. But then again, OEM boots wouldn't last with the extreme movement they get put into these days. The other problem is most of the cheapie aftermarket ball joints as mentioned do not even have the provision for a boot to be secured around the base. I just grease, and wipe off the excess whenever I'm under there.

 

If your bagged the upper boot will get chewed up no matter what. Hiedt's makes a really nice heavy duty lower boot that you can buy direct from them for like $3 a piece. They are very heavy duty and seal well. I put them on the uppers too, but am afraid thay wont do much good there as it seems impossible to keep a boot sealed when you air out the bags. Definitely worth it for the bottom joints tho.

 

thanks but how do i take them out

 

Your local parts house will have a socket that fits the head of the Chrysler style ball joint. It is often part of the ball joint service set, which most shops rent.

Be aware, some suppliers of the tubular style arms do not thread in the ball joints, but press them in. Heidts is known for this.

Try unscrewing them first. If they don't want budge for anything, at the risk for breaking the tool, then they have been pressed in, and will need to be pressed out.

I like the Moog replacement units. They seem to have nice travel for air ride systems.