c-4 lower ball joint removal

[Mike M.]

my first venture into c-4 suspension rebuild. shop manual call for a special tool to remove the ball joint. there certainly has to be a way for a shade tree mechanic to r&r the joint. anybody been there and done that? thanks mike

[John M.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

Mike,
You can get a cheap ball joint tool set at Harbor Freight that will remove them for about $40. I just found the right size pieces of steel pipe and pressed them out and back in with my hydraulic press. You just need to make sure that you support the aluminum around the balljoints with the end of the pipe. I used all C4 suspension on the 59 corvette project that I am building right now.

Regards, John McGraw

[Mike M.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

thanks john. isn't it amazing how much easier the c-4 front suspension rebuild is compared to a c-1 or c-2. and the a-arms polish up nicely. what mkind of frame did you put under the 59 to accept the c-4 front susp? mike

[John M.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

Mike,
You got that right! I used a SRIII chassis under the 59, and he really builds a nice frame. Here is a link to some pics of the project.
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubgallery.asp?id_=339303

Regards, John McGraw

[Mike M.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

beautiful chassis, john. can't wait to see finished product.way prettier than "farm use". ya may want to name it "country club use". they wouldn't allow ole farm sue at the country club even if i lost my mind and decided to join. mike

[Terry M.]

autobahn country club

Even this one Mike?




Autobahn Country Club

[Mike M.]

Re: autobahn country club

that's one country club i might be interest in,if and only they stock the beast. regards tery. mike

[Terry M.]

Re: autobahn country club

Given what it costs to get in there, and the annual assessment, I doubt The Beast is the drink of choice.

Note this link.




The Beast

[Mike Cobine]

Re: autobahn country club

I think you mean this link.

[Mike Cobine]

Wrong one, try this

http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/photos/OpenTour9-26-04/pages/IMG_0871.html

[Mike Cobine]

One More Time

[John M.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

Na Mike,
No country clubs for this old car. I am building her for road trips. I love restored C1 cars, but I just never enjoyed driving them long distances. "Farm Use" was one of the inspirations for me building this car! I can't even begin to count the hours I have in this car, but I can see tha light at the end of the tunnell! I hope to take it on the HotRod power tour next summer, and to NCRS nationals.

Regards, John McGraw

[Dick W.]

Re: c-4 lower ball joint removal

John, I think that Mikie had something a little cheaper in mind, like used "Beast" cans maybe

[Terry M.]

You got what I meant Mike – thanks

I don't know how I got the wrong link in there. I intended to highlight the beverage the dog is drinking.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: You got what I meant Mike – thanks

An interesting "club" but it also highlights what I ran up against for years. I often had people using a weekend budget that was more than my annual budget.

And this looks like the place that would have those same people.

Of course, the one thing that makes a good driver is hours of track time. And it appears you can have about all you could ever want.