New Ball Joint or new knuckle needed?

[jeff in co]

Just got the Blazer aligned at a shop (after many years of adjusting the Toe myself), I wanted to see where everything was sitting. Good news, the shop was surprised how good of shape the front end looked. Especially with 360k on truck. Granted, a lot has been changed/upgraded since new.

I did the ball joints about 5 years ago and one thing they noticed was a slight movement on the lower ball joint, passenger side. They had the axle supported on jacks and moved the tire at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions.

I could see a very slight movement of the joint bottom by the snapring. Not really in the upper part of the joint. Shop said ball joint is going bad but not very severe. Didn't really recommend changing either.

But after thinking about it, is it really the ball joint or would it be the knuckle that needs to be replaced? I'm thinking if there is movement on the bottom side of the joint, maybe the knuckle has worn to a slightly larger diameter not allowing joint to be pressing in tightly anymore.

Sound legit?



View attachment 251100

 

[jeff in co]

Bottom pic is pulled from web, so not my actual knuckle. But the movement is right around the snap ring. VERY slight movement. Basically just seeing a little grease move while the tire is being moved.

 

[Justin V]

It is possible to have worn out the knuckle enough that the new ball joint would be a slip fit instead of a press fit. Possible, but not plausible.....

Unless someone removed some metal from the knuckle in order to get the ball joint to go in easier.

I suggest approaching this from the standpoint that the joint needs replaced anyway, so get a line on a good knuckle but don't buy it yet. Try pulling the ball joint and see if it is loose in the knuckle, see if a new one is tight, if it isn't an interference fit, replace the knuckle...

 

[obijuank5]

Common on third gen dodges where they need knurled balljoints because the bore is wore out. I'd say new knuckle if you already have knurled balljoints or they aren't available.

 

[jeff in co]

I put in a Moog K8195T and looking at it, appears to have splines on it. Is the knuckle on the 8 lug, 10 bolt and 6 lug 10 bolt the same? The axle was swapped from a 3/4 ton suburban (91) and I just swapped the knuckles when I installed (because the knuckles had newer/known ball joints installed).

 

[sweetk30]

Common on third gen dodges where they need knurled balljoints because the bore is wore out. I'd say new knuckle if you already have knurled balljoints or they aren't available.

x2 my opinion also .

only real difference is tie rod top or bottom on knuckles .

 

[Bent77]

I put in a Moog K8195T and looking at it, appears to have splines on it. Is the knuckle on the 8 lug, 10 bolt and 6 lug 10 bolt the same? The axle was swapped from a 3/4 ton suburban (91) and I just swapped the knuckles when I installed (because the knuckles had newer/known ball joints installed).

Yes, and @ktmoutfront probably has one if needed.

All of the above responses kinda dictate you want it apart to inspect it, is that when you put in the Moog or was that 5 years ago?

 

[jeff in co]

^^^ Yea, it's when I put it in 5 years ago new. eBay's got a new CUCV knuckle for $35. Not bad for NOS.

 

[jeff in co]

Update.....

Found a NOS steering knuckle off of eBay, that also included ball joints. Bought it, but because I don't know how old ball joints go, I got some new Moog ones, pressed them in and reinstalled.

Tight as a drum now, so success!

Took it to the alignment shop and he said no change, and is even with the other side. Adjusted the toe again, and good to go!

Don't you just love installing everything, all the way to the 4wd hubs, and then go to put on caliper....find out I had it clocked one spindle bolt too far!! ARG!! Pull it all apart again to rotate brake backing plate the correct position....and put it back together again. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[K85 Octane]

you mean like when I rebuilt a column, then found out the inner tubing was cracked and the whole thing was scrap. lol

 

[jeff in co]

you mean like when I rebuilt a column, then found out the inner tubing was cracked and the whole thing was scrap. lol

Yea, kinda like that. Or like rebuild a steering column and find out the bearing cap was install upside down.....or the bearing itself was installed upside down...