Ball Joint Replacement (I have pictures but can't post)

[strizzlow20]

I just replaced my upper control arm w/ball joint and lower balljoint. The problem is is that there is a small gap between the lower ball joint and the knuckle. The ball joint is in the lower control arm perfect. I have pictures but I am unable to post for some reason. I can email the picture to you, I would just like an opinion as to if I need to adjust the ball joint. I am going to post pictures on doing the passanger side now that I have finished the driverside, I just want to make sure this is correct. The alignment place was trying to say the lower ball joint wasn't in high enough so I came home and pressed it in just a little bit more. Please let me know how to post a picture so I can get an opinion

 

[my pos mounty]

Press the balljoint into the A-arm until you can't press it anymore.. That should do it. Then put the clip on it.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

To post a picture you need to use a photo hosting site like Photobucket or Fotki.

 

[strizzlow20]

thanks guys

 

[strizzlow20]

Here is the link for the pictured Gap.

http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/xx246/strizzlow20/LowerBallJointGap.jpg

 

[BK_89iX]

Maybe it's just the angle of the pic, but that does not look right. I looks like the lower balljoint is not centered in the bore?? Did you press it in and was it a tight interference fit into the bore/hole? What is the brand of the part, part number and where did you get it?

BK

 

[janolsson]

Hey Strizzlow
Sorry i don't have any pictures of when i did my ball joint but i found one by mountaineergreen.

It doesn't show the underside but the upper side of the lower control arm. this is fron the sticky. On your picture the lip on the cylinder should IIRC should be seated up against the arm. As you can see in this picture the top will then protrude some above which will allow the circlip to slot in the groove.
It looks in your photo that you haven't put it in square. It has to go in square as it should be a slight limiting fit i.e. it should need some force to push it home. if you continue to push it on an angle you could oval the hole.
Hope this helps

 

[strizzlow20]

The hole was fine on the control arm. The ball joint is centered and fit tightly. I def had to use the ball joint press. I am going to post another picture which is slightly blury but you can see the snap ring and the ball joint. The Ball Joint is level but there is an uneven surface on some spots of the control which may look like its crooked. I checked with a neighbor that has worked on explorers and f150s and he said that ball joint looked fine. I purchased the duralast ball joint from Auto Zone as well as the upper control arm.

http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/xx246/strizzlow20/TopofBalljoint.jpg

 

[my pos mounty]

I purchased the duralast ball joint from Auto Zone as well as the upper control arm.

Sorry to hear that. You may have to redo this job next year, granted the parts will be free, but is it worth your time?

 

[strizzlow20]

I should have went with Moog then? This is my first time so I can go back and redo it, I just wanted an opinion as to the small gap between the knucked and the bottom of the ball joint. Thank you for your help.

 

[BK_89iX]

The hole was fine on the control arm. The ball joint is centered and fit tightly. I def had to use the ball joint press. I am going to post another picture which is slightly blury but you can see the snap ring and the ball joint. The Ball Joint is level but there is an uneven surface on some spots of the control which may look like its crooked. I checked with a neighbor that has worked on explorers and f150s and he said that ball joint looked fine. I purchased the duralast ball joint from Auto Zone as well as the upper control arm.

http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/xx246/strizzlow20/TopofBalljoint.jpg

Looks OK to me from that pic...

BK

 

[strizzlow20]

Thanks BK. I appreciate the feedback. I did replace the camber bolt kit with a Moog set to get a better alignment so maybe I should just pay for the higher end part.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Here are mine, they're 2 weeks old.

Jeez I need to get my new shocks on...

That reminds me- I forgot to Preen the garden tonight. I'm sure I'll get yelled at for that tomorrow...

 

[storlied]

Joe, your CV's look different than mine. Aftermarket parts? My boots have way more ribs than yours.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Yep- they were replaced along with both arms, ball joints, and hubs on both sides. They're GSP's. $69 at Advance Auto, $10 more than reman CV's... Fit and operation is great (so far)

CLICK ME

 

[strizzlow20]

Okay. Thats what a balljoint should look like. I am going to press out the lower ball joint and replace it with a different brand. There shouldn't be a gap I am just confused as to why the gap is there. Should I connect the lower ball joint first and then tighten the pinch bolt last so I don't have a gap??? I just don't think my ball joint looks right at all.

 

[my pos mounty]

Okay. Thats what a balljoint should look like. I am going to press out the lower ball joint and replace it with a different brand. There shouldn't be a gap I am just confused as to why the gap is there. Should I connect the lower ball joint first and then tighten the pinch bolt last so I don't have a gap??? I just don't think my ball joint looks right at all.

On the lower ball joint: If there is any gap between the largest part of the balljoint body and the lower control arm, it should be on the top side of the control arm, not on the bottom. If the balljoint is pressed in as far as you can press it in, it will be correct.
On the upper control arm: This is where you have a pinch bolt. Well sort of. It does pinch a little on the flange that the balljoint post protrudes into the steering knuckle, but that "pinch bolt" actually holds the balljoint by passing thru the steering knuckle and balljoint post groove. The balljoint post has a groove machined into it and when that pinch bolt is pushed thru the steering knuckle that groove is where the pinch bolt passes by. (does this even make sense?)

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The press the parts store loans does not have tthe correct ring you need to press in the ball joint on an Explorer. Trust me I've been down this road.

If you have a floor jack place it under the ball joint stud (leave the nut on) and use the jack to press it into the lower controll arm. You may need to tap on the arm with a hammer but it will go in. You also must put the snap ring on.

With the gap you have now I don't see how you could have got the snap ring on.

 

[BK_89iX]

What gap? From the underside in post #5? All I see is a protrusion from the end of the dust boot and the balljoint body up against the control arm bore. It looks off-center in the pic, but it is reported to be centered. The second pic in post #8 shows the snap ring installed on the top side. Strizz said he had to press the bj in place. What am I missing?

BK

 

[Dan Whitaker]

What gap? From the underside in post #5? All I see is a protrusion from the end of the dust boot and the balljoint body up against the control arm bore. It looks off-center in the pic, but it is reported to be centered. The second pic in post #8 shows the snap ring installed on the top side. Strizz said he had to press the bj in place. What am I missing?

BK

Look at the top of the boot at the bare metal on the ball joint. That should not be there. The boot should be darn near flush against the lower control arm.

Look at the pics in post #13. That is how it should look.