Ball Joint Help
 

I recently ordered all the parts to do a front end rebuild on a 1970 GMC C1500 SWB 2 wheel drive. I ordered all Moog parts from rockauto. Everything looks good except my lower ball joints. Each ball joint is in a box with the same exact parts numbers, but the parts themselves look to be different. I've attached pictures below. Does anyone know which one might be correct??

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00610.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00609.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00608.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00605.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00604.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...9/DSC00603.jpg

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

the bigger concern I'd have is why the heck the one has a hole drilled higher than the other...Return and replace.

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

After doing a little more research, it looks like the ball joint on the left is the correct one for this application. I found some additional pictures to match the ones that I took. Just wanted to post to let others know, just in case someone else had this issue.

Moog 1970 Lower Ball Joint

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

The ball joint on the right in the original post look to be lower ball joints for a 70, but looks to be a Raybestos product. Interesting.

Raybestos 1970 Lower Ball Joint

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

i wouldn't worry about one hole being slightly higher than the other// as long as the cotter pin goes in the castle nut ridges completely it is going to do the job correctly and prevent the nut from loosening up

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

YMMV but I recently had an issue with the hole being drilled in the wrong spot on a tie rod end. With the castle nut torqued down the hole was to high for the cotter pin to do it's job

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

Great... I've recently bought Moog ball-joints from Rockauto distributer too.

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

You should be fine. I contacted rockauto, and they shipped me another ball joint, free of charge. While its been a bit of a hassle, the customer service has been fantastic.

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

I run into this all the time from Rock Auto as well as Oreilly and other parts stores.

Same part just made by another supplier and/or made on a different machine. all the dimensions being the same, they can still look way different.

Ive had to take them back on several occasions. They just dont understand when I say I have to have them look the same. They say that they work the same. Still, its hard to send a customer some arms with 2 different looking ball joints.

Re: Ball Joint Help
 

x2. I recently experienced this when replacing the rubber/flex brake lines for the front of the dually. On one line, the formed section was plated bright/clear zinc, the other was plated bright yellow zinc yet both were the same product line. Nope, not on my stuff....