First off, this is a problem not with my Z, she's running great, but a relative's 98 GMC Envoy 4x4-- I don't know where else to turn I'm replacing a lower ball joint and I have everything taken apart down to the ball joint but I am stuck. The joint is riveted in by 4 stock rivets and I have chiseled off the heads flush with the metal joint plate and I still cannot punch the rivets out with a punch. I'm hitting it with a 3 lb hammer. Granted I can't swing it too far b/c the floor is there but still it's getting hit hard and the rivets are not budging. I don't know what to do at this point. I've even tried driving it out with the impact hammer. I did try drilling all the way thru one rivet with a 1/8" bit and still couldn't get it out. I'm letting it soak in some PB penetrating lubricant but that I know is not gettin gdown into the rivets.

Never seen anything like this and I'm fairly mechanically inclined. Any help would be appreciated before I push this thing out of a garage and off a !@#$%^&* cliff!!! I need to finish this project up tomorrow.

 

Do you have room for a C clamp? If so, put a socket on the bottom and something like a small ball bearing on the top and squeeze it with the C clamp. If the rivets are dimpled with a punch on the top, the bearing will stay put as the pressure is put on. The rivet can fall into the socket on the bottom. Just an idea.

 

Drill them out.