small weld on lower ball joint??? someone said I need it!

[brad juan]

I heard the other day that it is a good idea to put about 2 1" welds on the press in type ball joints to hold it in place, I kinda thought the guy that told me that was nuts, or is that actually a good idea?

[ebfabman]

Not a good idea unless the hole for the ball joint is worn. If thats the case get another control arm. If you can't get another control arm a few small tacks would be the thing to do.

[mooneyes]

..can't say i ever heard that one..but if the hole in your a-arm was wore enough so the press in ball joint was lose i would replace the a-arm not hope a couple of tac welds would hold it..but if it was tight i don't see how it would help or hurt

[barn9]

I kinda thought the guy that told me that was nuts

Trust your intuition on this one!

[EdB]

I had the same problem a few years ago and am surprised that it has not appeared
sooner on the list. I would hit a pothole or run off the edge of the road and the truck
would start pulling to the right or left. When I hit the next pothole or ran off the road
again it would straighten up. I took it to be alligned and the tech showed me the
problem: The hole was worn and the ball joint shaft would cock itself against the
hole in the a-arm and throw itself out of line until it was struck again and would fall back in place. He recommended that I find another a-arm or tack it in place. I
did this and the alignment was fine.

It is a one time fix and if the ball joint goes bad another a-arm is needed. It worked
fine for a few years and the ball joint went bad. I knew it would and had found
a spare a-arm that I stuck back for when I would need it.

The problem is easy to detect: Jack the truck up by the end of the a-arm. If the
ball joint slides through the hole then you have a problem. It may not cock to the
side as mine did but as it wears more it probably will.

EdB

[Tx Firefighter]

I agree with Ed on this. It's a good one time fix. A quality ball joint will last a long time so, if it was me, I'd do it before replacing the arm. Make sure and not get it too hot with the welds though.

Besides, the lower ball joint is in tension. It can't actually fall out of the arm, just bounce around in the hole.

[powell72]

I've had good luck with the control arm saver ball joints that some of the parts stores sell if you can't come up with a control arm right away. The ball joints have teeth all around the area where they press into the control arm. They are a pain in the butt to get in though.

[1968GMC]

one of mine is spot-welded. no trubles.

[69 longhorn]

the balljoints are a tight press in the lower arms on my longhorn......still, they are tack welded in place, to be sure that there is no problem(angles are a little "goofy" on a cut coil drop). The old truck has been that way for about 10 yrs now.....& it still works L

[lloyd k]

they do it all the time on round track cars,wont hert a thing

[68C15]

both of mine are welded. I have done this with a lot of customers vehicles also. I just dont trust the press fit when safety is at stake. this is re-doable next time too. just cut the weld with a cut-off wheel.

69longhorh, I did the same thing but went a step further & reshaped the arms where the ball joints are to get the joint centered in its arc of travel.