Oversized lower ball joints - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

craigg1 · 07-01-2023, 07:54 PM

Had some work done on my front end today, 67 C10, but front suspension swapped with a 72. Anyway, all went fine until installing the lower ball joint on drivers side. The ball joint would not seat right and was told the Lower control arm needed replaced.
I have read where some people say to tack weld the LCA. Others have mentioned using an oversized ball joint. Has anyone used an oversized ball joint....and if so did that fix your problem? Thanks.

68 P.O.S. · 07-02-2023, 09:56 AM

Well, first off, what's the problem you're experiencing that made you have work done?

**HO455** · 07-02-2023, 10:22 AM

The Moog problem solver ball joint is oversized. Commonly available.

Tack welding the joint was very common back when vehicles with similar control arms were everywhere. Nowadays many shops won't replace the ball joint without replacing the complete control arm (or they don't know how to).

It's possible your control arm was damaged in the past and that's why the ball joint won't seat right. My GTO had one like that once. Being poor at the time a BFH and a hot blue wrench solved that problem.

Our stamped steel control arms aren't exactly a precision machined part. Your only real concern would be if the steel would develop a crack over time if you had to really do a lot of massaging to get it back in shape.

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 07-02-2023, 02:48 PM

https://emfballjoints.com/pages/over...ar-ball-joints

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 07-02-2023, 04:11 PM

When I did the brake conversion, there was a piece of the Brother's video where they warned about wallowing out the hole by not driving the bj in straight or you'd need a new control arm. Obviously there are other options.

craigg1 · 07-11-2023, 08:35 PM

I ended up getting a new lower control arm. Oversized ball joint didn't work.

07-01-2023, 07:54 PM	#1
craigg1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beaumont, Tx Posts: 281	Oversized lower ball joints Had some work done on my front end today, 67 C10, but front suspension swapped with a 72. Anyway, all went fine until installing the lower ball joint on drivers side. The ball joint would not seat right and was told the Lower control arm needed replaced. I have read where some people say to tack weld the LCA. Others have mentioned using an oversized ball joint. Has anyone used an oversized ball joint....and if so did that fix your problem? Thanks. __________________ 67 C10 SWB Chevy

07-02-2023, 09:56 AM	#2
68 P.O.S. Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 1,662	Re: Oversized lower ball joints Well, first off, what's the problem you're experiencing that made you have work done? __________________ 72 C10 lwb fleetside -stock 350/350 combo

07-02-2023, 10:22 AM	#3
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,350	Re: Oversized lower ball joints The Moog problem solver ball joint is oversized. Commonly available. Tack welding the joint was very common back when vehicles with similar control arms were everywhere. Nowadays many shops won't replace the ball joint without replacing the complete control arm (or they don't know how to). It's possible your control arm was damaged in the past and that's why the ball joint won't seat right. My GTO had one like that once. Being poor at the time a BFH and a hot blue wrench solved that problem. Our stamped steel control arms aren't exactly a precision machined part. Your only real concern would be if the steel would develop a crack over time if you had to really do a lot of massaging to get it back in shape. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

07-02-2023, 02:48 PM	#4
Rust_never_sleeps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Ramon,CA Posts: 591	Re: Oversized lower ball joints https://emfballjoints.com/pages/over...ar-ball-joints

07-02-2023, 04:11 PM	#5
Rust_never_sleeps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Ramon,CA Posts: 591	Re: Oversized lower ball joints When I did the brake conversion, there was a piece of the Brother's video where they warned about wallowing out the hole by not driving the bj in straight or you'd need a new control arm. Obviously there are other options.

07-11-2023, 08:35 PM	#6
craigg1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Beaumont, Tx Posts: 281	Re: Oversized lower ball joints I ended up getting a new lower control arm. Oversized ball joint didn't work. __________________ 67 C10 SWB Chevy



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