1992_Z28_350TPI

I have aftermarket a-arms from a company called Performance Automotive/Pro Fab (not in business any longer). Purchased in '04. I'm replacing the ball joints now and have no idea what they used in the a-arms when they sold them to me. So I installed Moog K6145T. They are almost identical, except it has a slightly larger diameter and when I pressed it in, the ball joint cup stretched. Will this be a problem?
i will attach pictures of the old ball joints with markings MS on the underside and 04A1 on the upper portion. Also a picture of the new ball joint and the a-arm before and after installation of the new ball joint.
I'm thinking that this is not acceptable and I will need to buy new a-arms. 😬
I have no problem with the idea of buying new a-arms, I just want to be safe.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

You should have measured the outer diameter of the ball joint and measured the inner diameter of the ball joint hole. There needs to be a 0.002-0.003" interference fit. It sounds like the interference fit you have was much greater than that. For instance, if that company used an opening of 2.090" or so and you used one of the Moog problem solver ball joints (which is what Moog K6145T are) that are oversized and around 2.10 then you stretched the hole. Is it "safe" now? I don't know.

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

Yes , yes it will be a problem .

You sound as if your seeking reaffirmation of the fact that since they're stretched , they are no longer trustworthy . Well , I'll come right out and tell ya I wouldn't for a minute trust them on my car , in your last picture you can not only see the paint has all split but it looks as if the metal itself has a sort of wrinkle as well . Put under the stresses of driving and hitting potholes I think the safest course of action would be to replace them and then every bump in the road you hit won't bring the fear of whether this is the time the fatigued metal finally lets go .

File this one under "Better safe than sorry" .....

RBob

iTrader: (1)

Those a-arms are designed completely wrong. Get rid of them. Not only are the ball joints cups wrong, there is no reinforcement between the two tubes and cup where they are welded to the cup. Very weak design.

As for the ball joint cup, can tell by the second picture that the ball joint was held in by the lower portion of it. That area never gets pressed into the stock arm. The area that has the 04A1 on it, along with the Moog joint that has the serrations. That is the area of the ball joint that gets pressed into the stock arm.

The larger diameter area sits below the a-arm, protruding from it.

RBob.

1992_Z28_350TPI

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.
I agree, I ordered a new pair of a-arms. They are on the way.