1967 corvette ball joints.

[August M. Heilig]

Upon dis-assembly of our 1967 corvette front suspension,
we damaged a couple of the rubber boots for the ball joints. The ball joints
are the original riveted in great shape,(except for the torn rubber boots.)
Can these boots be replaced? Or are the ball joints now junk? If so where can
we get the original style ball joints?

Thank You,

August M. Heilig.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 corvette ball joints.

August-----

The original style boots on GM ball joints are not replaceable. Even if you could replace them, the boots for these joints were never available in SERVICE from GM or anyone else of which I am aware.

Original-style GM ball joints are getting to be difficult to find. They often sell for very high prices on eBay.

I hope that when you removed the ball joints you didn't use a "pickle-fork" type tool. This type of tool should only be used if one is going to replace the ball joints and doesn't really care what happens to the old ones. I prefer a press-type tool whenever ball joints are removed.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 corvette ball joints.

agree with joe that rubber seals were not available and generic ball joint seals dissimiliar from orig ones. Seem to recall seeing similar seals in junkyards on GM pass cars of late 50s and 60s. If you do find junkyard seals, follow joes advice on removal from A-arms. good luck, mike

[Franz E.]

Re: 1967 corvette ball joints.

Several years ago I was writing an article for the Restores magazine on 1963 Corvette upper ball studs P/N 3832450 (production only) and identified two basic differences in the production weld patterns. The ball stud part number was revised several times over the course of mid-year production. Along with identifying each sub-component that comprised the production ball stud assembly. The rubber seal’s, correct engineering term, (dust cover or boot) function was to prevent road grim and moisture from contaminating interior components. There’s a good cross sectional illustration in the October 1962 Chevrolet News Letter, Page 7. The rubber seal (boot) part number is 9742132 and is identified with a production date that consists of a number, YEAR, number within a symbol that appears as diamond shape similar to “home plate” (GO TOGERS THIS IS OUR YEAR) that number identifies the MOLD and a JULIAN DATE. The upper ball stud assembly rivet is part number 118170 and is a “CONE POINTED SOLID RIVET - FLAT HEAD” and not the round head rivet sold by most aftermarket suppliers. These rivets are part of the General Motors Engineering Standards, section G-10.101 and are not unique to Corvette production.