Balljoint snapring missing

[G.M.H]

I recently changed the balljoints on my 1980 10-bolt front. I just noticed that the snapring on one upper joint is broken and half of it is missing.
Is this a safety concern, or could it cause problems on the trail?

 

[Confedneck79K30]

replace it, they're press fit, but that only would break if it moved or shifted enough to unseat or crack that snapring, so re-seat the balljoint and install a new snapring...

 

[goldwing2000]

Every upper ball joint I've ever seen (a couple dozen of them) never even came with a snap ring. Only the lowers.
As long as your preload is properly set and your lower snap ring is still in place, I wouldn't worry about it.