URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
03-12-2018, 04:28 PM
#1
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Car: 1986 Camaro Z/28
Engine: 355ci Small Block
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
Was giving the car my yearly "pre season inspection" and noticed my driver side ball joint looked a little off... I completely redid the entire suspension and steering on this car two years ago and have maybe put 10k miles on it since. The car rides fine and nothing ever felt funny or off about it. They are moog balljoints. I would just like some reassurance from others whether this is dire or if it's not that big of a deal.
03-12-2018, 07:02 PM
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Car: 1986 Camaro Z/28
Engine: 355ci Small Block
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
Sorry, I should have noted that as well. I did grease them, but i had to take the grease fittings out for something quick right before I took these pics. (My bad) They are back in there now and the entire steering system has been greased and maintained. What could cause that ball joint to be cocked sideways like that and is there a simple solution to getting it taken care of without having to go through tearing everything apart again..?
03-12-2018, 07:24 PM
#4
Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
The only time I've experienced this is when the press I used had pushed a ball joint out unevenly, which oblonged the hole in the control arm. This happened on a different Make vehicle, but I'd guess the cause could be the same. On that one I had two options, a Moog Problem-Solver joint, which was slightly oversized for that condition, or replace the control arm.
03-13-2018, 02:11 PM
#5
Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
are you sure it hasn't been like that? The ball joints are mostly in tension (the springs are pushing down on the LCA) which would make it unlikely or next to impossible for it to come out even if the fit was sloppy, so it's most likely that it was never installed correctly.
03-13-2018, 02:24 PM
#6
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Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
You need to remove it and install it straight. Ball joints do not just move unless something is seriously wrong. Its probably f'ed up now since it's all the way in, good thing they are cheap 
. What kind of tool/how did you install it?
. What kind of tool/how did you install it?
03-13-2018, 09:30 PM
#7
Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
Another "backyard" trick is to use a 2 jaw gear puller to push the side not in all the way to finish seating it (will need to fit something across the top of the arm to catch the jaws)... But as someone stated earlier they are in tension so the spring pressure will tend to also push it to the step. It can't "fall" out as the arm would have to go past the step
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03-14-2018, 08:06 AM
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Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
Looks to me like it just wasn't pressed in all the way. Doesn't look cocked to the side enough to have hurt anything. Basically any process that could finish installing it, without damaging it of course, should clear it right up.
Of course it'll probably need an alignment afterwards, although it shouldn't be so grossly bad as to be undriveable.
Of course it'll probably need an alignment afterwards, although it shouldn't be so grossly bad as to be undriveable.
03-14-2018, 11:36 AM
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Car: 1991 rs, 1985 z28
Engine: 3.1 v6, 305 tpi
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23, 3.23
Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
03-23-2018, 05:32 PM
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Re: URGENT Ball joint issue!!!
Greetings from Beantown:
This is my first Reply but I think I got something to add. I just finished working in the New England cold doing a front end steering rebuild with new Moog ball joints. I used a Powerbuilt C Press Tool that I rented from Advanced Auto Parts. And, I had some difficulty getting the new ball joints to go in straight.
I ended up using a washer/spacer to adjust the ball joint when pressing it in.
In your case I would just put a washer or two and just adjust it to press in completely.
But, it may be safer to take it out and repress it to get it in straight and all the way.
Paul.....
This is my first Reply but I think I got something to add. I just finished working in the New England cold doing a front end steering rebuild with new Moog ball joints. I used a Powerbuilt C Press Tool that I rented from Advanced Auto Parts. And, I had some difficulty getting the new ball joints to go in straight.
I ended up using a washer/spacer to adjust the ball joint when pressing it in.
In your case I would just put a washer or two and just adjust it to press in completely.
But, it may be safer to take it out and repress it to get it in straight and all the way.
Paul.....
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