balljoints
#1
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balljoints
I just replaced the driver's side balljoint on my '92 3.1. This's the first time I've done this. My dad's done this a billion times, but he wasn't around to help me. I had a friend come over and he helped me break loose the original balljoint. When I went to install the new one it seemed to go in crooked and then wouldn't go in anymore. When my dad came home and looked at it, we pressed it out some and it immediately straighted up. We went to press it back in and it still looked crooked on top, but seated on the bottom.
Is this normal? It seemed to me that when I took the old one out it was level, but then it was pretty worn out.
Should I be worried? I'm going to do the passenger side tommorrow.
Mathius
Is this normal? It seemed to me that when I took the old one out it was level, but then it was pretty worn out.
Should I be worried? I'm going to do the passenger side tommorrow.
Mathius
#2
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pics of the new one & the one about to be replaced for comparison. It's been about 2yrs since I did ball joints.
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is the entire balljoint crooked inside the control arm, or is the shaft just pointed at an angle? if it's just the shaft tap it with a hammer so it will go in the spindle. if it's the entire balljoint, press it back out and back in, and hope that the hole in the control arm isn't elongated.
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You said it looks seated on the bottom? The ball joint flange met up with the bottom of the hole in the control arm? Then, you're fine.
#5
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Originally posted by TomP
You said it looks seated on the bottom? The ball joint flange met up with the bottom of the hole in the control arm? Then, you're fine.
You said it looks seated on the bottom? The ball joint flange met up with the bottom of the hole in the control arm? Then, you're fine.
Sorry guys, but I wasn't about to break the steering knuckle apart again to get good pictures.
I drove it only out of the driverway and back (want to take it for an alignment before I put extensive miles on it), so I don't know how well it drive's yet, but nothing fell apart, so I assume it went ok.
Mathius
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Well it's not likely to fall apart. Every time you hit a bump that thing gets driven up into the A-arm.
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Car: 1985 Mustang GT
Engine: hamsters
Transmission: a hamster wheel
Originally posted by camaro_junkie
Well it's not likely to fall apart. Every time you hit a bump that thing gets driven up into the A-arm.
Well it's not likely to fall apart. Every time you hit a bump that thing gets driven up into the A-arm.
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#8
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Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
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Transmission: T-5, CVT
Originally posted by 2.73's Suck
thats not true, the spring pushes down on the a-arm, the spindle pushes up when you hit a bump.
thats not true, the spring pushes down on the a-arm, the spindle pushes up when you hit a bump.
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Car: 1985 Mustang GT
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ohhhhh! sorry I havent done mine yet, but I am this summer, I didnt know they went up thru the a-arm but that does make more sense when I started thinking about it.
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No problem. I usually don't have the chance to be right in dispute on the boards so I had to jump at the chance
I decided to add a little diagram since I actually have some time on my hands.
PS gotta love Visio!
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PS gotta love Visio!
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Car: 1985 Mustang GT
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yea, i see now, i was thinking that the ball joint bolted on top of the a-arm, then after I thought about it that didnt make sense cause there would be an unspeakable amount of stress on the bolts (or rivets) that hold it down, now I see why you need a press to put them in too, man I dont know why I didnt do mine when I did the struts and springs, damn. Oh yea what is Visio?, anything like photoshop (thats what I use).
Last edited by 2.73's Suck; 04-24-2004 at 01:50 PM.
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