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Thread: Lower ball joint boot replacement

  1. #1
    Stupid Newbie DaraSue's Avatar
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    Lower ball joint boot replacement

    I got my torn boot replaced yesterday at Bailey's Auto Service here in SLC, and Craig kindly let me watch and document. Posting these here while I still more-or-less remember the details, for my own and possibly others' future reference. We did both of them just to be on the safe side so some of these pix may be alternating sides depending on which ones turned out clearer.

    After taking the front wheels off, he removed the fasteners to loosen the stabilizer bar. IMG_20170614_145652.jpg

    Then removed the cotter pins: IMG_20170614_150022.jpgIMG_20170614_145814.jpg

    He used a pneumatic tool (impact wrench?) to remove the bolts: IMG_20170614_151023.jpg

    Then lifted up the steering knuckle to separate it from the top of the ball joint: IMG_20170614_151040.jpg IMG_20170614_151256.jpg

    Removed the retaining ring and pulled the old boot off: IMG_20170614_152224.jpgIMG_20170614_151206.jpg

    Put the new boot and ring back on: IMG_20170614_152407.jpg

    Replaced the steering knuckle, bolt & cotter pin: IMG_20170614_153013.jpg

    Repeated everything on the other side, then filled the new boots with grease and topped off the upper ball joints: IMG_20170614_153038_2.jpg IMG_20170614_153208.jpg

    Reattached the stabilizer bar: IMG_20170614_153526.jpgIMG_20170614_153542.jpgIMG_20170614_153641.jpg

    Not an incredibly difficult or time-consuming job but I don't think the tools I had at home would have been up for it, so I'm glad I went to a shop. Now I don't have to worry about my front passenger's side wheel falling off on my next road trip.

  2. #2
    Senior Member DMC5180's Avatar
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    Lower ball joint boot replacement

    Yes you do . Re-check the lug nuts after a few days of driving. 65 ft lbs. which is the average of the 2 different specs 60-70.


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    DENNIS

    VIN 5180, Frame 3652, STAGE II​, DM-eng Solid State Solutions (RPM Rly, Dm.Lt.Mod., Fan Fail Mod. , FAN Rly, HS.Rly) , HID headlights, SPAX user since 2009, Eibach springs, M Adj. Rear LCA's, DPNW poly-sway bar kit, DMCEU LCA Stabilizer link kit, DMCMW Illuminated door sills, Aussie Illuminated SS Shifter plate, REAL MOMO EVO Steering wheel, DELOREANA Extended View Side Mirrors w/ Heaters, DELOREANA LED Door Lights.

  3. #3
    Stupid Newbie DaraSue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DMC5180 View Post
    Yes you do . Re-check the lug nuts after a few days of driving. 65 ft lbs. which is the average of the 2 different specs 60-70.
    The lug nuts on the wheels? I only have a cheap beam-type torque wrench, do I need to get a heavier-duty one? And by "a few days" do you mean around-town driving or road-trip driving?

  4. #4
    Senior Member DMC5180's Avatar
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    Lower ball joint boot replacement

    Yes, the lug nuts on wheels. This is always recommend with Aluminum Alloy wheels after 50-75 miles or so after the wheels have been off.

    Beam Type Torque wrench, boy thats old school. let me guess , its a craftsman? It's a lot easier to use a click type torque wrench. They are fairly inexpensive to find at Your local big name Auto parts store. $45-$60 for a 3/8 drive 10-150 ft lb range.


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    Last edited by DMC5180; 06-16-2017 at 01:26 AM.
    DENNIS

    VIN 5180, Frame 3652, STAGE II​, DM-eng Solid State Solutions (RPM Rly, Dm.Lt.Mod., Fan Fail Mod. , FAN Rly, HS.Rly) , HID headlights, SPAX user since 2009, Eibach springs, M Adj. Rear LCA's, DPNW poly-sway bar kit, DMCEU LCA Stabilizer link kit, DMCMW Illuminated door sills, Aussie Illuminated SS Shifter plate, REAL MOMO EVO Steering wheel, DELOREANA Extended View Side Mirrors w/ Heaters, DELOREANA LED Door Lights.

  5. #5
    Stupid Newbie DaraSue's Avatar
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    D'oh, I just checked and the one I have is calibrated in inch-pounds so I guess I'd need a new one either way. I thought it seemed kind of flimsy. (It's made by Performance Tool and I got it at AutoZone last summer when I was having all that trouble with my coolant line clamps.) I think I picked that style because it seemed the least complicated.

    It's about 13-1/2 miles to work plus the 8 home from the shop so I'll plan on doing it tomorrow night when I get home.

    Also what size are the lug nuts supposed to be? The specs say M12 which I thought meant 12MM but my "12" metric socket is too small, even the 14 doesn't fit. Am I reading the specs wrong or do I have some weird nonstandard size lugs?

    (Edit: the 12 is the diameter of the threaded part of the bolt, not the actual nut? )
    Last edited by DaraSue; 06-16-2017 at 02:29 AM.

  6. #6
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    M12 refers to the inner part Ive found (yep I never dealt with those numbers til I got a delorean...lol). I cant say on the size of the lug nuts cause I have an old 4 way with different sizes that I used.

    I still need to get a torque wrench myself...but not sure what a good range to get is
    Rob Depew
    Tacoma, Wa
    '81 DeLorean 4877 Grey, Auto, 4 wheels
    The Ressurection of 4877......
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  7. #7
    Senior Member DMC5180's Avatar
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    Lower ball joint boot replacement

    The proper size is 19 MM, but a 3/4 " socket also works.


    For future reference socket/wrench size table

    M4 = 7MM
    M5 = 8MM or 15/16
    M6 = 10MM
    M7 = 11MM or 7/16
    M8 = 13MM
    M10 = 17MM or 11/16
    M12 = 19 MM or 3/4

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    Last edited by DMC5180; 06-16-2017 at 08:52 AM.
    DENNIS

    VIN 5180, Frame 3652, STAGE II​, DM-eng Solid State Solutions (RPM Rly, Dm.Lt.Mod., Fan Fail Mod. , FAN Rly, HS.Rly) , HID headlights, SPAX user since 2009, Eibach springs, M Adj. Rear LCA's, DPNW poly-sway bar kit, DMCEU LCA Stabilizer link kit, DMCMW Illuminated door sills, Aussie Illuminated SS Shifter plate, REAL MOMO EVO Steering wheel, DELOREANA Extended View Side Mirrors w/ Heaters, DELOREANA LED Door Lights.

  8. #8
    LS1 DMC Nicholas R's Avatar
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    Whenever you're specifying a bolt, or talking about a bolt size, the head of the bolt has nothing to do with it. Whether it be a 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, or a 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", or 1/2" bolt, you're ALWAYS talking about the size of the shank of the bolt (the threaded part).

    Head sizes are all based on the type of bolt and the standards that they adhere to. Typically a 6mm bolt has a 10mm head, 8mm has a 13mm head, a 10mm bolt has a 17mm head, and a 12mm bolt has a 19mm head. However, if you've got a socket head cap screw, you obviously need Allen/hex keys to turn them. If you've got flange head bolts, the head will be smaller. Japanese JIS standards have smaller bolt heads in a lot of cases. For instance, an M10 JIS bolt has a 15mm head where an M10 DIN bolt has a 17mm head. Older European standards are the same way. My 1970 Opel GT has a lot of M10 bolts with 15mm heads on it.

    As stated above, the DeLorean lugs are 12mm, and the socket to remove them is 19mm and since 3/4"x25.4mm=19.05mm, a 3/4" socket works just as well.

  9. #9
    Stupid Newbie DaraSue's Avatar
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    Ah, all right. I was a little nervous since there's been a bunch of other random weird stuff installed on my car, but I guess the wheels might actually have fallen off by now if a PO had used the wrong size lug nuts, heh.

    Anybody have any recs for a good brand of wrench? Lowe's has this one but it's 1/2". The ones at Autozone don't have very good reviews and the ones on Napa and O'Reilly don't have reviews listed at all so how do I know if they're any good?

  10. #10
    LS1 DMC Nicholas R's Avatar
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    What's wrong with it being 1/2"? a 3/8" Torque wrench is likely going to be too low of a range, and a 3/4" is going to be way too high.

    Personally, I wouldn't buy a 1/2" torque wrench that only goes to 150ftlbs. There are plenty of available 1/2" wrenches that go to 250lbs. You need that extra 100lbs when doing suspension work, and other high torque stuff.
    Last edited by Nicholas R; 06-16-2017 at 11:50 AM.

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