Riveted Lower GM Balljoints , Still hate em

[Witsend]

The upper ones have much smaller rivet heads and aren't too bad , but the lower ones are a slow go and Butcher Bull Work. If it wasn't for the rusty torsion bar set up on this 99 AWD Astro Van , I would have been likely doing Lower control arm assemblies instead. Must have sucked to change boiler plate gaskets on Rusty old Steam Locomotives 80 years ago.

[greasybob]

Chop the head of with a chisel head. Drill the center of the rivets out (sharp drill bit, fast). this relieves the pressure. Punch through, no problem

[Witsend]

Chop the head of with a chisel head. Drill the center of the rivets out (sharp drill bit, fast). this relieves the pressure. Punch through, no problem
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. Thanks Bob , I did drill down deep into the rivet The larger size rivets of the lowers always seem to present a challenge to me, Guess I never owned a big enough hand chisel, or that awesome wide barrel Snap On Air Hammer that I've seen Air Hammer Jocks drive in and out ball joints, U-joints, and wheel bearings within minutes with those things.
My Merely Mortal long barrel air hammer and existing chisel bit still work but likely gouge and booger the surrounding metal before the bigger heads break off , so it requires that I also drill through the center of the rivet heads to weaken them and be able to lop the heads off easier . Today I just tried something different and wizzed a cross in each rivet head, and then they chopped off easy. Drilled a 11/32 hole in the center of each , my 3/8 one seemed too dull. Had to take a beer break before the last one out . I think they all get dull sooner or later and need to slow things way down on the drill speed and exert more steady pressure or they tend to burn em up prematurely.Brand new bits would help .LOL

[greasybob]

I'm old school and crude, I sharpen my bits on the grinding wheel until they are no more. The Drill Doctor never worked that well for me.

[Witsend]

Sharpening drill bits properly on the wheel is an art