There was a post here recently about a batch of incorrecrtly made ball joints and it sounds like you ended up with some of them. From what I remember it was the lower joint that was made wrong.
CK5
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Having trouble adjusting my ball
- Thread starter Richcz28
- Start date
There was a post here recently about a batch of incorrecrtly made ball joints and it sounds like you ended up with some of them. From what I remember it was the lower joint that was made wrong.
xenomarine
1/2 ton status
I just read that right after the title - you might be getting the bill for cleaning the coffee off of the inside of my windshield!
Your were supposed to swallow
Just stopped at the shop and they pulled another off the shelf that was also longer than my original. They are ordering a couple more from a different supplier to see if there's a difference. His part number referenced from 1971 - 1990 k5 d44/corp 10.
Just stopped at the shop and they pulled another off the shelf that was also longer than my original. They are ordering a couple more from a different supplier to see if there's a difference. His part number referenced from 1971 - 1990 k5 d44/corp 10.
So apparently the shop tried looked at two other companies ball joints and decided to put one in that has a snap ring around the bottom. Unfortunately they left the snap ring in the box and said when I picked it up, "you know how to put one of those on?" "Of course" I said. Well should've paid more attention, because the snap ring will not fit on with how far in the ball joint is pressed. Do I need the snap ring?
Asshats...
Bring it back and have them press it out enough to get the snap ring in, then press it in till the snap ring touches.
Bring it back and have them press it out enough to get the snap ring in, then press it in till the snap ring touches.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Thats not really how it works. That snap ring keeps the joint from coming back out. Im sure they pressed the joint all the way down. Looks like the knuckle wont allow the snap ring to go on. My own personal thoughts are that the snap ring is probably not needed, but it would be good insurance to be able to instal it.
Doh! My bad. Hard to believe I just did this job recently...as in 4 or 5 months ago. 
Check the inside of the "C" and see if the BJ can be pressed down anymore or if it's tight against the ridge in the BJ case.
Check the inside of the "C" and see if the BJ can be pressed down anymore or if it's tight against the ridge in the BJ case.
gone skiing... vt just got a foot of snow so had to drive up in the middle of the night. seems like a really bad flu bug is going round work 
i'll let you guys know how I make out next week, thanks.
i'll let you guys know how I make out next week, thanks.
I don't know how close it is to fitting, but sometimes you have to get a little drift or something and tap on the snap ring to get it into the groove. It's just really tight sometimes. You should be able to see if the top is really seated, though.
Again, if you want to work on it but the shop is closed or whatever, the loaner ball joint presses will let you take it out and inspect the bore, etc. and put it back together. I can't remember which order, but I think the lower gets done with the upper out so there's room for the tool to come through the upper hole. Same thing for tapping them in with a large socket, hammer and drift. It helps to route your tools through the upper hole for pounding the lower ball joint.
Again, if you want to work on it but the shop is closed or whatever, the loaner ball joint presses will let you take it out and inspect the bore, etc. and put it back together. I can't remember which order, but I think the lower gets done with the upper out so there's room for the tool to come through the upper hole. Same thing for tapping them in with a large socket, hammer and drift. It helps to route your tools through the upper hole for pounding the lower ball joint.
Lower BJs? No snap ring. The casting is too thick and the BJ body not long enough to allow the snap ring to fit. And I wouldn't go grinding that casting either. That BJ isn't going anywhere, in addition to being pressed in, all of the trucks weight is holding it in place.
The upper BJ should have a snap ring though.
The upper BJ should have a snap ring though.
Interesting... My new lower ball joint has a snap ring, and now the new new balljoint that was put in the upper has a snap ring that does not fit. The old new upper ball joint did not have a snap ring.
I need to check the original to see, I don't remember its snap ring setup.
I need to check the original to see, I don't remember its snap ring setup.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
My own personal thoughts are that you will be fine running no snap rings.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
there is a specific amount of force called out to turn the knuckle. You measure it using a fish scale.
