LUVTruck.com

who has replaces their ball joints? i am doing my upper and lower and also the tie rods on my truck... well just the uppers came in today and had to use a torch/pipe wrench/ and cheater bar to get the nut off and it took 3 hrs.... lucky it was a parts truck i tried first and not mine....

so anyone do this and have any good ways of getting the nut off with out tearing up stuff.. i noticed it the shop manual it said to replace control are with ball joint already attached (from factory). well i cant do it... i need it on the road by Thursday or i would wait and get tube a-arms from the guy here making them... which i still will later

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My old but now gone Luv...

Use a upper control arm out of a 81/82 Luv, they use 3 bolts to attach the ball joint.

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1980 4x4 KBD40 ISUZU/Chev Luv
Factory Fitted c190 Diesel Engine, ARB BullBar, Ramsey Winch, Custom Tilt Tray,

and they bolt right in? the A-arms, no mods?

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My old but now gone Luv...

They bolt straight in, some mods may be needed to the downward travel limiting bumpstop if you have your t bars wound for lift. You will need a wheel alighnment also.
Below is a pic of the 81/82 Luv Upper arm in my 80 4x4 Luv (4x4 and 2wd Luvs Use the SAME arm)
Don't flip the balljoint like in the pic when used in a 2wd, Drop the joint in from the top when used in a 2wd. The 81/82 ball joints are cheaper and readily available because theyre used in a few different vehicals LUV/PUP/TROOPER.

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1980 4x4 KBD40 ISUZU/Chev Luv
Factory Fitted c190 Diesel Engine, ARB BullBar, Ramsey Winch, Custom Tilt Tray,

thank you... ill see if i can find some... need to have it on the road by Thursday

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My old but now gone Luv...

Let us know how that 81/82 control arm works out. I had the same problem with my 80 4x4 Luv. I took off the arm and my mechanic ended up heating the nut up and using a very large socket (not sure on size) for something you use on a semi truck. haha

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

its all back together as of right now with new lower ball joints and tie rods...the uppers came in today and i have and early 87 pup upper arms to use, look like the ones in the picture and looks like they will line up good... i will replace Monday or Tuesday and let everyone know. my problem was a lower ball joint and the steering box lash... but i am going to replace the upper arms and joints anyway and then the front will be basically new...

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My old but now gone Luv...

i had to cut the nuts off the upper ball joint. it takes a 2 1/4 socket which is a pain in the ass to get and the socket dosent fit on it good bucause the lip of the arm is too close to the nut. but i wont have that problem anymore.. switching to s10 upper ball joints and making custom lower arms with toyota ball joints so i can run toyota drop spindles and have 5 lug and disc..

anyone know if i can use upper A-bars from a '87 pup on a '78 luv?