Upper ball joint install question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 115
Likes: 5
From: Brookland AR
Upper ball joint install question
I am putting together my front suspension with a kit from corvette america. The boot on the upper ball joint does not fit very tight and there is about a 3/8" gap between the boot and the top of the spindle. I thought that the boot might fit on before putting the ball joint through the upper control arm, but then the ball joint sits way up and I don't think the rubber base of the boot will compress enough for the ball joint to mount flush on the upper control arm....here's some pics....help!
The first 2 pics show it mounted. I put the boot on from the bottom side after installing the ball joint into the upper control arm.
This pic shows what it looks like if I put the boot on the ball joint and then put it through the upper control arm.
This is a side by side of old and new. The old one had the boot secured around the ball joint.
The first 2 pics show it mounted. I put the boot on from the bottom side after installing the ball joint into the upper control arm.
This pic shows what it looks like if I put the boot on the ball joint and then put it through the upper control arm.
This is a side by side of old and new. The old one had the boot secured around the ball joint.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Pinehurst NC
I just replaced my entire front suspension about 2 months ago and asked the same question. Here is a picture of what mine looked like.
As long as you have everything to the proper torque you should be good to go, once you fill it with grease it will push the boot out some more also. I have put at least 300 miles on mine since doing it and have re-torqued everything and all is well.
Cruise on
As long as you have everything to the proper torque you should be good to go, once you fill it with grease it will push the boot out some more also. I have put at least 300 miles on mine since doing it and have re-torqued everything and all is well.
Cruise on
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Pinehurst NC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 115
Likes: 5
From: Brookland AR
I can see how greasing the joint might make the boot come down but then it will be separated from the joint and that can't be good either. I would have thought that the boot on a ball joint would need to be at least mostly sealed if it is going to be at all effective?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Pinehurst NC
I got mine from WilCox, the boot had a small lip in the top of it and got installed from the top, the small lip held it up above the upper A-arm when the top got torqued down. So when you filled it with grease it would not just fall down.
Old one with a grease boot on top and bottom
New one with just the boot on bottom, but installed from top with lip holding it up
Old one with a grease boot on top and bottom
New one with just the boot on bottom, but installed from top with lip holding it up
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 833
From: WI
Are those MOOG ball joints, or who makes them? Does GM still make ball joints for these cars? I bought a whole bunch of MOOG parts for another GM car I am restoring because I didn't want to deal with aftermarket fitment issues. They were more expensive, but not enough to break the bank. I don't like the look of those units, but they probably will work just fine.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 833
From: WI
I just answered my own question: Delco DOES make balljoints for at least my 81, and probably other years, at least according to Rock Auto. There is a pretty wide price spread between some ball joints. The MOOG B/J looks a lot like the one in your picture.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Something doesn't look correct. If the ball joint stem went any deeper into the control arm, the carter pin hole would be below the castle nut towers.
I'd mic the stem on the old and the new and total height to see what is what. Looking like the incorect ball joint to me.
I'd mic the stem on the old and the new and total height to see what is what. Looking like the incorect ball joint to me.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Interesting.. I'm going to show these pics to the shop tomorrow.. I've never noticed. When you fill them with grease does the boot expand?
The USA made kits are the only ones we will install in our shop and I don't know which kit you guys purchased but I never recall there being a gap between the boot and the upper support.
The SU01 series kits on our site are the USA made kits and everything is Moog except for the upper joint which is Federal Mogul. (the main reason is that the moog upper joint looks like a top hat).
Willcox
The USA made kits are the only ones we will install in our shop and I don't know which kit you guys purchased but I never recall there being a gap between the boot and the upper support.
The SU01 series kits on our site are the USA made kits and everything is Moog except for the upper joint which is Federal Mogul. (the main reason is that the moog upper joint looks like a top hat).
Willcox
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
I have those too, and was told here NOT to make a "lip sandwich" with that upper ball joint seal, but to just push the boot up from the bottom and make the sure the ball joint is bolted "steel to steel". Mine greased up and expanded fine.
You don't "rubber mount" a ball joint - and that's what it effectively does the other way.
-W
You don't "rubber mount" a ball joint - and that's what it effectively does the other way.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; May 20, 2012 at 08:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Interesting.. I'm going to show these pics to the shop tomorrow.. I've never noticed. When you fill them with grease does the boot expand?
The USA made kits are the only ones we will install in our shop and I don't know which kit you guys purchased but I never recall there being a gap between the boot and the upper support.
The SU01 series kits on our site are the USA made kits and everything is Moog except for the upper joint which is Federal Mogul. (the main reason is that the moog upper joint looks like a top hat).
Willcox
The USA made kits are the only ones we will install in our shop and I don't know which kit you guys purchased but I never recall there being a gap between the boot and the upper support.
The SU01 series kits on our site are the USA made kits and everything is Moog except for the upper joint which is Federal Mogul. (the main reason is that the moog upper joint looks like a top hat).
Willcox
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 833
From: WI
They'll probably work fine like they are, but they look funky and hopefully they'll bulge out more when creased. I'll shoot for an OEM style when I go to change mine.
Last edited by Mark G; May 20, 2012 at 08:23 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
If the ball joint stem isn't setting deep enough, or as deeply as it was, you may be changing the alignment or maybe the spindle positioning. I'm not a front end guy, so before I left it alone I'd have someone who really knows front end grometry look at it, or at least the pics.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I would double check the part no. and if correct, contact the manufacturer. I've put a few ball joints in in my life and never have had one fit like this. I'd make a pretty hefty bet it's the wrong part.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
I've put a few ball joints in in my life and never have had one fit like this. I'd make a pretty hefty bet it's the wrong part.[/QUOTE]Put in a fair amount myself, and when there has been this issue it's normally an incorrect part. Stretch the rubber cup? negative, not intended to function that way.