Trying to keep this thing on the road. It looks to need a driver's side lower ball joint. Did the passenger one a couple of years ago by replacing the entire lower control arm.

Has anyone figured out how to replace just the ball joint? $300 CAD for the entire arm, due to a $20 ball joint failing is just stupid crazy.

Any suggestions?

Plaz

 

I have the opposite problem with my front control arms, the rear bushing separated from the control arm so the control arm rod, just moves inside the bushings sleeve. It looks like the metal sleeve cracked in the front and allows the control arm rod to move freely.. Ball joints are fine and don't make noise but that rear mount does make light clunking noise over small bumps..
Arms are aluminum and R&R of a ball joint is not as easy as on a steel arm so probably nobody does it..
New arms are about $220 on eBay and i'll probably get them soon, right after i paint my calipers from rusty to red!

4/11/2025: I just bought a set of new Detroit Axle complete front control arms from eBay for $160 (not for X model), they had a sale!
As for the calipers, they're going into the trash can and are being replaced by Akebono big brakes from 2016 Q50..

 

you may need a tool like subuary BJs use:
the tool screws onto the BJs threads and then you start tightening the big nut that should start pulling the whole BJ assembly out. we have a subaru legacy i couldn't get the BJs out with just brute force and this thing took them out in mere seconds.