I'M replacing both upper ball joints on my 02 Dakota 3.9 an wanted to know the best way to remove the riveted part on the ball joint.One side was bolted an has been changed.
Would a sawzaw work on it or a drill?
Any info is appreciated.

 

I like to chisel them off with an air hammer. Drilling works but is more labour intensive. Fast and easy but maybe not the best method...I have even torched them off...just don't put any heat into the control arm...if possible, heat and cut on the side of the ball joint so the heat goes into the old ball joint and not the c/a

 

Cut plus signs in the rivets with a cutting wheel on an angle grinder, then knock off the heads with an air chisel. From there, drill through body of rivet with a slightly smaller diameter drill bit and knock out the remaining shell with a punch.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.
I drilled out centers an then with sawzaw cut off the joint from base.
.I was then able to carefiully zaw saw the bottoms off then tops off an it came out..