stumped on a dana 44 upper ball join

[wkbrdrob]

I've been fighting my ball joints all day now and I'm stumped. I've got the whole driver's side apart, old ball joints out, and I'm trying to put the new upper back in. I am using a ball joint puller to install the new ball joint, but try as I might, I can't seem to get it in far enough to get the snap ring on the bottom.

The ball joint I pulled out of the top (factory) did not have a snap ring on the bottom, only the lower ball joint did. The Napa upper ball joint however came with a snap ring. Is this one of those generic part issues where some applications use the ring and others don't?

Bottom line, I can't get it in far enough. Do I need the snap right on the upper ball joint of a Dana 44 from a 85 K20?

 

[mechted]

As long as its fully seated into the knuckle, you're fine

 

[gmc4cw]

I have never run a snap ring on the upper. the design of the knuckle doesn't allow it. as long as you have the balljoint seated fully its fine.

 

[75k10chevy]

My upper ball joints have snap rings. So did the old ones.

 

[mxfireman]

My upper ball joints have snap rings. So did the old ones.

X's 2 on my mine.

 

[mechted]

They arnt really needed... wieght of truck pushs down on axle, down thru upper balljoint into knuckle, then to tire...

When the wieght is off a corner, tire wieght is supported by lower balljoint, so no real need to for the upper snap ring

 

[roadnotca]

Dana 44 on an 85?