While replacing the front cross member on my '84 SE with 368,000 kilometers (229,000 miles) on it, it seemed like a good time to replace the bushings and ball joints. I found that the rubber boots seemed too tight to fit on the ball joint bases...

Some say that it's ok to just let the rubber cover sit on the lower part; that the rubber pressure will be good enough to seal.
Some say that will allow excess grease squeezed in from the bottom to exit.

It seemed to me by the slightly smaller diameter above the diameter that's pressed into the lower control arm that the seal should seat snugly to prevent contaminant penetration. There's actually a little groove at the top of the seal along the ball joint shaft that allows for the old stuff to exit.

I found a Moog page that supports the idea that the boots should be installed snugly over the bases as well:

http://static.speedwaymotor...m/pdf/91032356-1.pdf

So, being determined to get the boots in place after trying a few ineffective methods, I got a little piece of plastic 1 1/2" diameter PVC pipe. I made 8 cuts across one end (16 slots) about as deep as the hacksaw blade I used. That fit snugly over the boot and would flex outward to accommodate the boot sliding over the ball joint base. I put a little grease around the ball joint base then squeezed the boot down over the ball joint base with a clamp as shown in the picture. Worked great. With even pressure all around, they popped on without much force.

Nice little trick, I just did the ball joints on my 87 se and I just popped the rubber boot on and it seems snug, I hope it won't pop off.

Are you the white coupe I see on the QEW every once in a while, usually around niagara falls?

quote Originally posted by FieroMontreal: Nice little trick, I just did the ball joints on my 87 se and I just popped the rubber boot on and it seems snug, I hope it won't pop off. Are you the white coupe I see on the QEW every once in a while, usually around niagara falls?

I got Fiero Store ball joints. The boots weren't going on without some aggression... applied evenly.

Must be someone else on the QEW; I think I've been to the Falls with each of the three cars, but not regularly... or lately.

Will be in Niagara on the Lake for the big car show this Sunday though. https://www.niagaraonthelak...m/page/event/7437/12

[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 08-06-2015).]

I'm working or else I'd be there! I visited the Port Colborne show last weekend and I was surprised that there wasn't a single Fiero out of the hundred's of cars there... but they managed a chevette, two raetta's and two solstices.

I couple weeks ago I did see two Fiero's at the car show on the side of the QEW at the rest area near the RCSS/Petro Canada near Stoney creek. a black fastback and another white coupe.

See ya around.

[This message has been edited by FieroMontreal (edited 08-06-2015).]

I'm usually at the Gateway Niagara show on Tuesdays in Grimsby at the Casablanca interchange. The white Formula would be mine. There's usually one or two other local cars there. I was at the Canal Days show with the Formula between 10:30 and 2:00 (I think...). I was parked over by the road bordering the marina. Do you ever go to the Seaway Mall show in Welland on Fridays?

Here's a pic of my herd: