Upper Ball Joint not Going in Straight
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Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 73
Likes: 13
From: Houston, TX
Upper Ball Joint not Going in Straight
Hello folks,
While taking apart my spindle to replace my wheel bearings, I tore my upper ball joint. I ordered a new Moog K500134 and while installing using a rented Orielly's Ball Joint press, I find that it just starts crooked. Before continuing I took it out and tried again, only for it to go in crooked again. Has anyone had experience with this and what could I do to install it properly and not crooked?
While taking apart my spindle to replace my wheel bearings, I tore my upper ball joint. I ordered a new Moog K500134 and while installing using a rented Orielly's Ball Joint press, I find that it just starts crooked. Before continuing I took it out and tried again, only for it to go in crooked again. Has anyone had experience with this and what could I do to install it properly and not crooked?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Not positive that this will help, on a C-5, but in the old days, when replacing ball joints, we'd toss them into a freezer for a couple of hours, the cold temp "shrinking" it a hair. As you seem to be aware, on a C-5, with aluminum spindles, you can't "horse" it into place like you can with an iron spindle. Care is essential.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 183
Likes: 19
From: St. Louis MO
This freezing will help but if you have created a score or ridge on the mating surfaces you will need to try to mitigate them first. You can't make the bore oversize at all but if there are scores just ease them slightly.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 73
Likes: 13
From: Houston, TX
Fellas,
I thought I'd post an updated in case someone has the same problem in the future.
I could not get them in even after somewhat smoothing out the mating surfaces as well as freezing the ball joints. I gave up and took the knuckle + Lower A Arms off to a nearby shop and spent $180 on getting them hydraulically pressed in
.
So, person with the same problem in the future, I'm sorry I couldn't do better.
I thought I'd post an updated in case someone has the same problem in the future.
I could not get them in even after somewhat smoothing out the mating surfaces as well as freezing the ball joints. I gave up and took the knuckle + Lower A Arms off to a nearby shop and spent $180 on getting them hydraulically pressed in
.So, person with the same problem in the future, I'm sorry I couldn't do better.
