Ball joint fit issues
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 527
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Ball joint fit issues
So my lower control arm ball joint bore is 2.053"ish and the Moog ball joints measure 2.080" which is way to much to try and press them in. From what I seen most lower joints are around the Moog size so I assume my arms are undersized. Anyone know what sort of interference fit these joints should have? I would assume less than .010. Looks like I will need to have the arms bored.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
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So my lower control arm ball joint bore is 2.053"ish and the Moog ball joints measure 2.080" which is way to much to try and press them in. From what I seen most lower joints are around the Moog size so I assume my arms are undersized. Anyone know what sort of interference fit these joints should have? I would assume less than .010. Looks like I will need to have the arms bored.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 648
From: USA
Same here, used the same Moog ball-joints, no issues. If you're measuring a .027 difference, that number would cut in half for entirety of the circumference....so, .0135 interference all the way around. Which is much closer to the. 010 you were thinking it would roughly be about. Next, consider you're pressing hardened steel into aluminum, which is considerably softer and much more compliant. You have to get them started as straight as possible and go for it. If it helps ease your mind, throw the ball-joints in the freezer the night before and warm the A-arm with a good heat gun on high until it's too hot to touch with no gloves and then press the 2 together! You did good checking clearances, but I believe you'll be just fine👍
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,709
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From: Stay dangerous my friends
It’s good that you measure, same here, that’s too tight of a press fit. They make ball joints oversized with the logic being that the a-arm is worn out.
I don’t have a solution for you, but perhaps Summit or Speedway or Jegs have some dimensions to find the proper press fit.
i did try to press a ball joint that’s too tight years ago, I have a big press with air operated hydraulics, and have a special adapter made from a Balljoint tool to hold the arm properly. I broke the huge press plates (1” cast iron) and it wasn’t fully seated, and it displaced a lot of metal to get it in there. Lesson learned, it’s easy to have the attitude that it should be OK when it’s not.
i use the Howe low friction ball joints that are also a little taller, but they are also oversized, so since it’s modular and easy to disassemble, I can rework it in a lathe. It’s not a street ball joint as it’s meant to be disassembled and serviced often without the firmly affixed boot, on a race car.
I don’t have a solution for you, but perhaps Summit or Speedway or Jegs have some dimensions to find the proper press fit.
i did try to press a ball joint that’s too tight years ago, I have a big press with air operated hydraulics, and have a special adapter made from a Balljoint tool to hold the arm properly. I broke the huge press plates (1” cast iron) and it wasn’t fully seated, and it displaced a lot of metal to get it in there. Lesson learned, it’s easy to have the attitude that it should be OK when it’s not.
i use the Howe low friction ball joints that are also a little taller, but they are also oversized, so since it’s modular and easy to disassemble, I can rework it in a lathe. It’s not a street ball joint as it’s meant to be disassembled and serviced often without the firmly affixed boot, on a race car.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,764
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From: USA
Source: CorvetteForum https://share.google/r7CZa7jjcXpKoXfL3
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 739
From: Stay dangerous my friends
According to Viking Trad3r, a respected member here, he mentions this part # and that it's .005 interference or .005 oversized altogether. When thinking about your thread, I remembered this previous thread, as I had responded to it with my upper ball-joint removal process👍
Source: CorvetteForum https://share.google/r7CZa7jjcXpKoXfL3
Source: CorvetteForum https://share.google/r7CZa7jjcXpKoXfL3
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1608503846
Also I think it was on MOOG's website many years ago, that their replacement balljoint series was oversized compared to the OEM size.
BTW I have a spare set of early C4 LCA's with the Howe BJ lower part installed, and also the Van Steel delrin offset bushings, same one as pictured in the referenced thread if anyone really needs it. (and I no longer have the spare set of 88-96 LCA's mentioned in the referenced thread as i ordered the proper wheels for the more offset)
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,709
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From: Stay dangerous my friends
0.002" to 0.003" is proper tight interference fit for 2.8" diameter forged aluminum alloy bore about 1/2" thick with a steel ball joint housing, but I would be fine with up to double that especially if you heat the aluminum a little bit. Steel to steel interference fit would be under 0.001"
Don't measure the bore with a caliper, use T gauges and 0.0001 mic in 3-4 places or similar. Caliper will likely yield too small of an inside bore measurement.
Don't measure the bore with a caliper, use T gauges and 0.0001 mic in 3-4 places or similar. Caliper will likely yield too small of an inside bore measurement.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
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So I was able to find one of the old balljoints behind my press. The factory joints measure right around 2.075 and if I place it in the arm it starts in the bore unlike the new joints. Like everyone stated looks like the new joints are 5-6 thou oversized.