I'm replacing the front ball joints on my 89 Formula. The old one was a pain to get out but I finally managed. For some reason, the new one went in crooked, so I removed it and, of course, ruined it in the process. So now I'm on my second attempt and it is still going in crooked but not as bad. I crawled under it and the rubber ring has torn (see image).

Does this mean I need to take this ball joint out and start over? Does anyone have any installation advice? I can't figure out why it keeps going in crooked?

fyi - I'm using the C-clamp installation tool from autozone.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this project has turned into a total PITA and I'm running out of ball joints .

Thanks guys!

 

Are you trying to press the ball joint into place with the boot on? It looks that way.

You need to remove the boot, it goes back on top once the ball joint is pressed through.

The knurled section is what seats into the A-arm.

 

The fiest ball joint should still be fine also. You jut need to go to a performance shop where they stock urethane dust boots. Alot of 4x4 shops stock them as well as race shops. The black boots you have are now shot but again the ball joints should still be fine to use

 

autozone should have ball joint press not a c clamp for ball joints. i should know i just did it last week.

 

Thanks a million Vetruck! I wasn't sure if I was suppose to remove the boot. I asked 3 workers at 2 different Autozone's and no one knew whether I should remove the boot or not.

I was able to get the ball joint in place and torque the nut to the specified 90lbs. I noticed the spindle (which is turned all the way to the passenger side for access) seems to be a little crooked. It looks a little in-ward towards the bottom. Is this normal?

godreject, I got the "big C-clamp" at Autzone as part of their rent-a-tool. They might refer to it as a ball joint press? I don't remember.

 

The Autozone tool is made to be "generic". Everytime I ever used it, the ball joints go in crooked. You have to loosen it up, readjust it some to work the side not going in, and keep readjusting until you get the joint seated - always readjusting so it pushes i one side, then the other.