lower ball joint fun :-(

[budwich]

I was on my way to replacing the lower ball joint on my 96. Got the old one off using a press. Relatively easy although scary when the thing slowly let go. Anyway, trying to press in the replacement (no name brand... ok I know that's kind of bad) but I look and compared the old with new. Distances from the ring clip to the base is the same along with the diameter, etc. The base on the new (ie. the lip around the bottom of the ball joint is larger than the old but I would think that shouldn't matter. The problem that I am having is that the "shelf" of the lower control arm seems to have cupped in a bit such even though it appear the ball joint is seated, it is impossible to put the ring clip into the groove even thought the groove is clearly visible about the shelf / seat. I didn't really pay attention to the "shelf" when pressing out the old joint so I am not sure whether it cupped as during the press out or not. I guess one guestion is the "shelf" on the receiver supposed to be totally flat??? IF so, how do I "flatten" it out? If not, what should I try?

I can't really drive a "three wheel ex"... :-( helppppp... thanks for suggestion. PS. I followed the sticky at the top of this, its been prefect so far except for this "snag".

 

[dean1997sport]

If you mean cupped downward away from the flat side of the BJ where the clip goes its supposed to be like that.
I think the BJ isnt seated all the way I had the same problem it just needed to go a mm or so.

 

[budwich]

ya that's what I mean (cupped downwards)... It makes it impossible to "wedge" the ring clip past "rim of the cup" and still be able to line up with the groove. I pressed it back out and tried again without much change. I measured all the dimensions of the old and the new and things are with in "measurement error" of the my calipers... in the hundredths of a mm... not much difference. As indicate in appears to be a seating issue. One addition question, is using a "bit of heat" allowed just to maybe expand the receiver hole or that's a bad idea???? thanks again.

 

[budwich]

got it in ... left the press on, went for supper, came back and it was seated higher, clip fits easy now. thanks for the "bit more captain" suggestion.

 

[dean1997sport]

Cool!
I took mine out and sprayed it with PB blaster and it finally seated with some torque on it.

 

[gavin]

FWIW, you could always toss the BJ into the freezer for a few hours.
the cold will cause the metal to contract, making it a bit easier to reinstall. Then when it starts getting back to room temp, the metal will expand back out making the tight fit.

 

[budwich]

thanks I got to keep that one up more near the top of ideas... I always remember "heat" and "grinder" but always forget the "cold" is also effective.

 

[gavin]

thanks I got to keep that one up more near the top of ideas... I always remember "heat" and "grinder" but always forget the "cold" is also effective.

oh, so do I.
I had to freeze my ring gear to get it to fit onto the carrier.
but when replacing a bearing race in my front axle, I beat the living snot out of it getting the race to seat; when I should have tossed the race in the freezer for a while.