Replacing Ball Joints

[Redguy]

I'm trying to replace the ball joints on my 1994 GMC Suburban, K-1500. I have everything apart, but can't get the rivets out! I ground the heads off and tried punching them out, won't move. I tried to drill one out and only made the hole out of shape and there's still rivet material in there I can't get out. Any tips?

[txab]

Drilling the heads off the rivets and punching them through has always worked for me. Sorry I'm no help

[Redguy]

Drilling the heads off the rivets and punching them through has always worked for me. Sorry I'm no help

 

 

Did you drill the heads off from the top or bottom? You didn't drill them all the way through? Where they hard to punch out? I ground the top of the head off and tried to punch them down since I could get a better swing on the hammer from the top.

[txab]

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[Redguy]

Ok I just can't get them out. I think I'm going to take the control arm off and take it in to my local machine shop to get them out. Anyone ever pull the control arm off? Looks pretty strait forward (esspecially since I already have everything else off), but I want to make sure there's no tough spots that I don't see.