Upper ball joint rivets

**ssl78** · #1 02-25-2002, 02:22 AM

I am redoing the front end of my 1969 Chevelle and am having a hard time finding the correct 1/4 inch upper steel buck rivets for the upper ball joints. Anybody have any idea where to get them. I have ordered them through a Corvette and Camaro parts catalog and recieved 5/16 rivets both times.

**SS427** · #2 02-25-2002, 03:03 AM

Shoot me an e-mail with your address. I believe I have enough for one set of control arms left over. These are the actual rivets used by GM.

CamarosRus · #3 02-27-2002, 03:58 AM

When I was doing my 70 Z-28 upper control arms I searched all over metro Seattle talking with every large frame and alignment shop......I came to the conclusion thats it's a lost art installing riveted ball joints....I finally had Don Dorfman at ASL in Nevada install them for me.....He had built a special little fixture to support joint/control arm and used some kind of punch press or ???......anyway whos doing them now? for how much?? and are the upper ball joints still readily available from G.M.
What about just finding another set of control arms with GOOD used ball joints??
thanks, Chuck

**Stefano** · #4 02-27-2002, 04:06 AM

D&M Corvette in Downers Grove, IL. will rivet the ball joints to the control arms.

**ssl78** · #5 02-27-2002, 09:08 PM

The problem using a corvette place is that Corvettes use 5/16 rivets not 1/4in. There is places that do it but I could do it myself if I could get the rivets.

68 COPO II · #6 03-14-2002, 08:22 PM

ssl78,
I finally reached this same point on my subframe. Did we ever find a source for the 1/4 inch rivets?

Denis · #7 03-14-2002, 08:32 PM

Rick's First Generation sells ball joint rivets, set of 8. Not sure if they're just like the originals but they advertise them as such.

**ssl78** · #8 03-14-2002, 09:32 PM

No I gave up and put round headed bolts in. I even ordered the ones that were advertised in classic ind. for a Camaro, but they came 5/16. I am still trying to find them since it will be easy to install them on the car.

Jeff H · #9 03-15-2002, 02:03 AM

I'll check with the guy doing my JL8 car because he already has the front suspension stuff done and I know he put original style rivets in.

**SS427** · #10 03-15-2002, 02:17 AM

I may have found a source. I will let all know in a few days if they are what we need. I am not sure as to the available quantity as of yet.

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