Symptoms
An alignment that won't hold, play at the bottom of the knuckle when you rock the tire top to bottom, and clunks. In one owner's 2006 the upper ball joint pulled out of the control arm while driving.
The fix, step by step
- Unload the torsion bar first.
- Then remove the wheel, brake caliper and rotor, separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle, and press the old joint out of the control arm with a rented ball-joint press.
- One owner needed a torch and 'a lot of patience' with a breaker bar.
- Press in the new joint, torque it, grease it (the manual says not below 10°F) and get an alignment.
Tools & part numbers
- Ball-joint press (rentable)
- torsion-bar unloading tool
- torch
- breaker bar
- torque wrench.
Where to buy the parts
Kryptonite lower ball joint (2002–09 H2, 8-lug)Kryptonite ↗Amazon ↗
Ball joints (catalog, 2005 H2)RockAuto ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for AM General Hummer H2 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.