Since the upper ball joint is riveted in whats the best way to get the rivets out? Do I just want to take my angle grinder to them and grind the heads off or do I want to try and drill through the middle or what do I want to do to get the rivets out? Thanks guys.

 

I took an angle grinder and ground the heads off and then took and air chisel and drove them out. You can use a hammer and a small round chisel to probably do the same thing.

 

Just buy the Harbor Freight one and open up a ball joint shop in Maine, you'll rake in a fortune and pay for all your future mods.

 

some of the smaller ball joint press kits
don't have the right length adapter ring
for Rams
and would require you to make your own.

details:

https://dodgeforum.com/m_639375/tm.htm

sample quote:

The more complete Ball Joint & CV Press kit
from Advance Auto Parts/PartsAmerica stores
as a free loaner {$160 deposit}
had the correct spacers to do the job.

This large & heavy black plastic case
labeled
"23 piece PowerBuilt Ball Joint and CV Press Kit"

is Alltrade Part Number 9150043
which also Advance Auto Parts PN 648617

This kit had one spacer that was the key:
it is about 2.25 inches in diameter and 3 inches long
and unlike the other 'open end' spacers that require an 'adapter disc'
this spacer has one end capped but with a machined hole with locating lip
that allows it to to attach to the C frame without the need for the adapter disc.
This shortens the overall length of all the pieces enough
and allows the 6.25 inch "throat" of the C-frame
to be enough distance to fit over the lower ball joint assembly.

 

The harbor freight one works fine. i try and get most of my "one time use" specialty parts at harbor frieght, they have a harmonic puller for $5, and all kinds of other tools well cheaper than the rental price at autozone. I think the ball joint breakers are 2 for $10, and they are good to have too.

The caprice is probably easier to work on than the dodge, I used to have an Impala witht the same body style (b-body).

I used a small chisel and a ball-peen hammer to break the rivets, I have heard of people using dremels and grinders too.

Good luck on it and yeah I would buy the harbor freight part, why not?