So I have changed the rear bushings and ball joints on my HHR. If you think the bushings are hard to press in/out, wait till you get a load of those ball joint rivets. I got two more pair to do. I ground the head off the ball joint rivets (ball joint side) then got a couple of 3/8" bolts about 1/2" and 1" long. I used the 1/2" long one first, just to get it started. If you use anything longer, you risk it bending and hurting yourself. Ask me how I know. I am using a 5 ton arbor press and it is still impossible to press them out. Against my better judgement, I am using a 4' cheater bar on the press handle. With all my strength I can just barely get them pressed out. Has anyone figured an easier way to do this, other than buying a pair of new LCA's?

 

I don't own an arbor press but I do have a drill press. My way would be to drill them out.

 

 

We drilled them, it was not easy. A drill press would have helped.