Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement

[RocketyMan]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

MY ultimate goal is not adjust ability. If it was I'd buy the Hardrace units and be done with it. The goal is to not be throwing away serviceable parts.

I will replace the rubber bushings with poly bushings. I will now have what amounts to a "lifetime" bushing. That bushing will be mounted in lifetime piece of metal, let's use the guide link. So the guide link and bushing are now lifetime, but the ball joint is not. I'm not aware of any ball joints being made that are "lifetime". If they do, I'd love to know about them. So, we have a lifetime bushing and lifetime link and ball joint that will wear out. My goal is to be able to keep a perfectly serviceable guide link and bushing and put a new ball joint into it instead of buy the alternative.

The alternative being buying a new guide link assembly, pressing out the rubber bushing, installing my poly bushing from my old guide link which now has a failed ball joint and throwing away a perfectly serviceable guide link. If the ball joint can be replaced, then the only thing I will ever have to replace in the future is the ball joint.

Is that making more sense?

Oh I COMPLETELY agree to minimize throwing away serviceable parts. My most recent part I serviced a bushing in was the front suspension thrust rod. I ended up saving money because the bushing only costed $13 bux or so...while a whole new unit I think is around $40. It only took me about an hr for both.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

There are lots of ball joint presses out there on ebay for not much money. Guessing there might be something that works for not too much money. Hell, one of the presses I already have may work.

Maybe I'll take a look. I don't currently have a press, though I have been wanting one to install bushings in lower control arm "lollipops" like the one on the E46 in the video. Finding a local shop to press bushings for me (at a realistic price) has been a challenge in the past. I'm sure it will have other uses as well.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Maybe I'll take a look. I don't currently have a press, though I have been wanting one to install bushings in lower control arm "lollipops" like the one on the E46 in the video. Finding a local shop to press bushings for me (at a realistic price) has been a challenge in the past. I'm sure it will have other uses as well.

Then the challenge becomes how and where to order the ball joints. Meyle maybe?

[andrewwynn]

Found some bad news. This is a quote from a company that MAKES special bushing for the other side of control arms:

When the ball joint at the wheel end of the arm is used up, the Moosehead UCAB can be easily pressed out of the control arm and pressed back into a replacement arm,

If a company that builds bearings for control arms moves their bushing to a new arm when the wheel side ball joint wears out it's not looking good for your prospect. Also when watching a video of meyleHD control arm fabrication they used the term "flanged" describing how the ball joint end is added this sounds like the steel of the arm is forged around the ball joint making it one with the end and not a part that can be removed and replaced.

The ball itself could be removed and replaced but are you going to get the next bigger ball?

I found examples with the aluminum arms where the ball joint can be pressed out for replacement but all signs are the wheel end is a permanent fix. Let us know if your find out otherwise and I'll cut mine in half maybe right though the middle of the ball for a post mortem that will answer at least is it possible. (eg if the steel is Forged around the ball joint forget it). My estimate is they made a trade off of size to make the end smaller made it staked on vs a pressed into solution.

I'm aiming for within a month to replace my arms with meyleHD as an upgrade to the stock arms (due to my proclivities of driving over curbs regularly).

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Found some bad news. This is a quote from a company that MAKES special bushing for the other side of control arms:

When the ball joint at the wheel end of the arm is used up, the Moosehead UCAB can be easily pressed out of the control arm and pressed back into a replacement arm,

If a company that builds bearings for control arms moves their bushing to a new arm when the wheel side ball joint wears out it's not looking good for your prospect. Also when watching a video of meyleHD control arm fabrication they used the term "flanged" describing how the ball joint end is added this sounds like the steel of the arm is forged around the ball joint making it one with the end and not a part that can be removed and replaced.

The ball itself could be removed and replaced but are you going to get the next bigger ball?

I found examples with the aluminum arms where the ball joint can be pressed out for replacement but all signs are the wheel end is a permanent fix. Let us know if your find out otherwise and I'll cut mine in half maybe right though the middle of the ball for a post mortem that will answer at least is it possible. (eg if the steel is Forged around the ball joint forget it). My estimate is they made a trade off of size to make the end smaller made it staked on vs a pressed into solution.

I'm aiming for within a month to replace my arms with meyleHD as an upgrade to the stock arms (due to my proclivities of driving over curbs regularly).

I replaced the bushings on my guide links this past weekend. I looked closely at the ball joints and they appear to have been pressed in. Hard to tell for sure, but it doesn't look like they were staked on the bolt end of the ball. I didn't screw with them since I wasn't replacing the whole arm. I will be replacing the front lower control arms this weekend and will have those to mess with to see how those are built. If the ball joints look like they are pressed in I'll see if I can press one out. If I can then it's trying to figure out where to procure a replacement.

[Fifty150hs]

I replaced the front lower control arms. Since they are now "spares" for warranty return, I tried to take one of the ball joints apart to see if they are pressed in. They are not. I pulled the boot off and it became obvious how the joints on these particular arms are constructed. (see photos) The side of the control arm where the ball joint arm extends is machined, the ball joint inserted into the opposite side and then it is capped and the cap is staked or crimped in place. No swapping these ball joints.

[jopecasa]

I've never done this...Check for snap ring on top.

Removed epoxy or glue...and years of gunk.

Let us know how you go.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by jopecasa

I've never done this...Check for snap ring on top.

Removed epoxy or glue...and years of gunk.

Let us know how you go.

No snap ring that I can see.

[andrewwynn]

It's as I suspected I still may saw mine in half right through the ball joint top to bottom to confirm 100%.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

It's as I suspected I still may saw mine in half right through the ball joint top to bottom to confirm 100%.

I'd love to see the results if you do.