Hello - New to Oldsmobile. Doing a drum to disc swap 64 f85 cutlass convertible. I have the drum assembly off and are left with the BJ in control arm. Struggling to get the lower removed. Were these welded on the 64’. Do I have to buy a new control arm with BJ already installed? Thanks

 

Not welded in from the factory but they may have been tacked afterward if replaced and the hole was enlarged. Should be able to see any tacking from the bottom where the joint meets the arm.

 

Thanks. Guess I just need a little bit more muscle and a bigger breaker bar.

 

Not sure what a breaker bar will do for you. These ball joints are pressed in. You either need the correct ball joint "C-clamp" tool or you need to remove the arm from the car and use a hydraulic press. Actually, truth be told, in my young and impoverished days I got the ball joint out with a sledge hammer, supporting the underside with a length of pipe. Today I have a 20 ton press.

 

Penetrating oil, not WD 40 generously applied top and bottom to the interference fit area can't hurt. Put some pressure on the clamp and strike the clamp screw downward, re tighten a little, strike it with reasonable force don't wail on it re-tighten and repeat.

 

Got it off!! Tighten, wack, tighten, wack. Appreciate the input. Top has the rivets. Seems it great shape so might be keeping that one as is.

 

If the original is excellent I'd leave it, the uppers usually last far longer than the lowers. Old school quality vs. new replacement? I'll take the original again, if they are excellent.