1998 GMC Sonoma Lower control arm

Hello Trafficflow

the bolts 105 might got lose for the lower control arm. the insulator might be wore out.

check for a brokken ball joint.
there should be a ball joint that attach the lower control arm to the steering knuckle.that ball joint is the load carier one.it was either revited to the control arm, or pressed or threated or it was press fit.
it is dangerous to have that vehicle in traffic.

One time donation is enough.

More questions? feel free to ask

Happy thanksgiving

Hello Trafficflow
Suspension, steering and wheel alignement is one of my ASE certification.
Damage or distortion to a control arm bushing can result in changes in wheel alignement settings. Inspect the control arm bushing for deterioration and splits in rubber, or bushing that is that is off-center. Sometime bushings are in position where visual inspection is difficult.
Using a flashlight and a mirroe will sometime help.
Push on the fenders of the vehicle while listeneing for noise. To inspect bushing for losensess, use a prybar to see if the control arm can moved.
Control arm bushing are pressed or driven out. It is important that the control holes not be damage by the process. If an air chisel is used, be sure that the chisel bit is wide and dull. If it sharp, it will cut the bushing rather that pushing it out
the new bushing is is pressed or pounded in with a spesial driven tool.
Send me the picture and we can see what it is really.

Thank you for the pics, they look clear.
You have a SLA ( short-long-suspension arm) with the spring resting from the lower control arm, that make our problematic ball joint a load carrying one.
Damage to it could put more weight on the bearing as long as the problem is not fixed, so your friend is right about the bearings.
Here is the first thing to do for safety precaution:
-Reach across to jack the control arm from the opposit side of the vehicle. This will allow the jack to roll toward the inside of the vehicle as the control arm is lowered releasing spring pressure.
- remove the cotter pin from the ball joint nut and loosen the nut several turns.
-position the vehicle so that the coil spring is pushing on the ball joint. This will require lifting the vehicle or allowing its weight to rest on the wheels
- use a hammer to pound sharply on the steering knuckle on the outside of the tapper. This will deform the tapperand spring pressure will separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
If it does not work, use a pickle fork to separate the ball joint.
Tell me how far you have come.

Yes, a c clamp press tool. It should come with instruction of removing and putting the new one in.
You can keep it after the job is done or. ;-) Repack it nicely, return it and get your money back.

Yes you can, follow the previous instructions, if you're in doudt, stop and ask me question. You do not bother me.I'll be with you untill you fix it, and as long as you need my help.

I suppose
- you removed the cotter pin
-loosen the nut several turn.
The jack is place under the control arm not exactly on the bolt that hold the struts.
The taper is just the stud of the ball joint that goes through the steering knuckle. Just forget that.
If it is hard to remove, use a pickle fork to separate the ball joint.
Print our converation so you won't miss anything.
Tell me what you did and how far you come.

Yes it is the stabilasor bar link, must be remove.
Replace with new one on both side.
Right now. The spring bolt broke, and spring need to be secure. You will need a spring compressor too.
Pickle fork
spring compressor
let me know when you got them.

No you do not need spring compressor.I thought you said the bolt that hold the spring on the lower control arm broke and spring was lose.
Separate the ball joint and let me know how far you got.

Tell me how far you've come.