Hi,
I'm back again with yet another problem with my '86na, 173000 mi. Recently had had front end work: outer tie rod ends, sway bar bushings replaced, strut cartridges replaced then had toe reset, then very recently installed new tires, car pulls to the right enough to eat at the outer rim of the tire, took to alignment shop for alignment and they say the lower ball joints are shot(showed me the excess play with a crowbar moving the joint). Says the car cannot be alingned until this is corrected and then may require a camber kit. Is this a repair that someone could do at home or should this be left to professsionals? Also, some sources say that the ball joints for these cars are pressed into the transverse link and that the link must be replaced, although I have found the ball joints listed for sale on auto zone and advance auto parts. Any suggestions are truly appreciated:)

Take the links off the car, buy new ball joints, and take them to a machine shop and have the old ones pressed out and the new ones pressed in. Costs arround $15 each to have done. Or DIY by hammering out the old ball joints after removing the snap rings, then put the new ball joints in the freezer for a couple of hours, heat the links with an acedeline torch and the new ball joints should go in easily(maybe).

I prefer the machine shop approach...........

Moog makes new balljoints for the car. If you try to get them from Nissan, they'll sell you the whole control arm + balljoint as an assembly.

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1985 300ZX n/a

See my Z project

Is this the proper way to check ball joints on z31's?
LOWER FOLLOWER NONLOADED ball joints are found on two kinds of applications: RWD cars where the spring is over the upper control arm, and vehicles with MacPherson strut suspensions. On both applications the lower joint is checked with the wheel raised off the ground hanging free (no stand under the lower control arm). Rock the wheel in and out by hand. A good joint should show no movement.

If so, I don't get any significant movement when I rock the wheels by hand.