Ball Joint Questions
04-29-2016, 04:05 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Ball Joint Questions
The ball joints I received from a Corvette supplier were recalled due to loose ball fit so I just picked up some Moog USA made...much tighter I might add.
Anyway, 2 questions here. On the lowers there are 2 style side mounting bolts. For each ball joint there's one regular hex head bolt and one with a larger extended head. Does that bolt go towards the front or rear? And why do they come that way? The ones I took off were the same way, but I forgot the orientation.
On the upper ball joints I assume the rubber boot goes on after the ball joint is bolted on?
Anyway, 2 questions here. On the lowers there are 2 style side mounting bolts. For each ball joint there's one regular hex head bolt and one with a larger extended head. Does that bolt go towards the front or rear? And why do they come that way? The ones I took off were the same way, but I forgot the orientation.
On the upper ball joints I assume the rubber boot goes on after the ball joint is bolted on?
04-29-2016, 05:39 PM
#2
Team Owner
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Can you post picture of the other bolt.
04-29-2016, 06:57 PM
#3
Race Director
Too lazy tonight to go out and look at my car - but the answer is in this post.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oint-bolt.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oint-bolt.html
04-30-2016, 10:59 AM
#5
Race Director
I forgot the question about the boot. Provided the flange of the boot isn't too big to fit through the hole in the a-arm, it may be easier to put the boot on the ball joint before installing the ball joint. In any event install the boots before bolting the a-arm in. The last set of boots I installed on a Plymouth for upper ball joints had to be driven on and seated with a piece of PVC pipe fitted over the boot bead and a hammer.
05-01-2016, 03:58 PM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Well, the flat plate portion of the ball joint (where they bolt in) is how far the boot slips on. If I were to slip the boots on first then the flat section would come down on top of the boot and crush it when the bolts get tightened.
I ended up slipping the boots on after bolting them in. These do not have the type of boot with the hard edge. They look like they will seal just fine and when the spindle gets put it place they look good.
I still don't see what the special bolt is for on the lowers, but I put them on the front of each lower A-arm.
I ended up slipping the boots on after bolting them in. These do not have the type of boot with the hard edge. They look like they will seal just fine and when the spindle gets put it place they look good.
I still don't see what the special bolt is for on the lowers, but I put them on the front of each lower A-arm.
05-01-2016, 05:55 PM
#7
Race Director
Some ball joint boots have the hard collar and some don't - the last car I worked on had the hard collar on the boots on the upper ball joint. I guess the special bolt acts as a stop - but the only think there is to bump against is the caliper bracket edge (?).
Last edited by DansYellow66; 05-01-2016 at 05:56 PM.