Improper balljoint install?

[pettybludart]

I swapped over to disc brakes(from a 73 Swinger)on my 66 Dart lastyear and have only driven the car maybe 600 miles.Today while doing my fenderwell headers,I noticed that the ball joint looks like it has sunk into the UCA?When I did the swap,I replaced the lower balljoint to the bigger 73 one and just swapped uppers cause it had the big balljoint already.I,ve never done upper Bjoints on a Mopar,so is this pressed in or screwed in?I can see some threads.Checkout the pic..any advise will be appreaciated.Thanks.


P.S I also swapped the 6 cyl. for a 360,this was not like this lastyear.

 

[drive48]

they are screw in type

 

[grumpuscreature]

They screw in with their own special socket. Looks like yours are trashed pretty good. You are going to need the socket (Mopar large ball joint socket) and a 1/2" drive impact gun to change them. They can be a real bear and penetrating oil doesn't always help.

 

[green1]

A 4' pipe wrench, and a gentle mig tack works.

 

[71DartGuy]

Yeah they can be a real bastard. I had to use a BIG pipe wrench to get the old ones out! NOT FUN!

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

screw in, and you can just use the old thread.

if it's coming out, no need for anything other than a hammer cause it sounds like the arm is already trashed.

 

[pettybludart]

So can I just tac it to hold it in place?

 

[340butterduster]

screw in, and you can just use the old thread.

if it's coming out, no need for anything other than a hammer cause it sounds like the arm is already trashed.

Unfortunately, I was thinking along the same line. Never seen one, unscrew itself out, the thread are likely trashed in the control arm, maybe the prior balljoint change got pressed in the threads. It's a common mistake.
Screw it out to make sure, if the threads are decent, re-install with locktite.

Good luck,
Giles

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

So can I just tac it to hold it in place?

actually yes.

that will do till next replacement in which you can just get a new arm.

 

[pettybludart]

actually yes.

that will do till next replacement in which you can just get a new arm.

Will be going tubular with coilovers nextyear.:cheers:

 

[bumnround]

They screw in. If it goes in loose tack it.

 

[RedFish]

It pays to clean the underside before removing the old balljoint. Backing all that crud through the arm can ruin the threads. Leaves nothing to screw a new joint into. Weld them good and forget it for the life of the ball joint.