Upper ball joint help

[jballard81]

In a bit of a pickle here. I'm trying to finish the ball joints on the driver's side of my 94 ranger 4x4.

The first one I tried to press in my crappy press started mushrooming out and not only didn't press it in enough to get the snap ring on, it ruined the pressing edge.

Got a new ball joint today and stuck it in the freezer for a couple hours, made sure the knuckle seat was clean and tried again.

Same result. I used a better quality press tool, but it didn't quite seat and it was starting to eat the press edge.

What are my options here? I shouldn't try and file/sand down the seat on the knuckle right?

I'm guessing this was an issue for the last guy since there wasn't a snap ring on the joint when I pressed it out. Maybe I just need to file down just the last 1/8 inch or so on the knuckle?

Ideas and opinions appreciated

 

[Uncle Gump]

Is it a Moog problem solver ball joints?

I think those can be had slightly oversized for a worn knuckle.

If your knuckle isn't worn...

 

[jballard81]

Is it a Moog problem solver ball joints?

I think those can be had slightly oversized for a worn knuckle.

If your knuckle isn't worn...

It is indeed a Moog problem solver. I can't tell if the joints have been done before, but they were definitely shot.

The knuckle doesn't appear worn to me. No slop in the knuckle seat, the AC Delco joint I used first got stuck in about the same spot.

If the last one wasn't seated all the way, I'm guessing there's some corrosion that must have gotten into that last little bit. Though it looked ok to me, I guess I need to take another look. It's gotta be just the last 1/8 inch. If that

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I know they tell you not to, but I keep a worn flapper wheel for on a drill and clean any rust and burrs out of U-joint and ball joint holes before reassembly. I’ll put a thin film of oil or grease in too, trying to keep the rust gremlins away around here…

 

[jballard81]

I know they tell you not to, but I keep a worn flapper wheel for on a drill and clean any rust and burrs out of U-joint and ball joint holes before reassembly. I’ll put a thin film of oil or grease in too, trying to keep the rust gremlins away around here…

I'm thinking that's the option to go with. If it's pressing I'm fine the first 85%, if I can grind down the last 15% a touch, it should work.

 

[jballard81]

Maybe made a questionable judgement call here. I poked out the Moog joint and sanded the bottom of the seat and ended up sanding most of the seat down some.

Definitely had some corrosion on the bottom of the seat. I'm thinking the knuckle is more worn than I thought. After that I feel like it seated but the snap ring groove was still not showing all the way. Paint marked it to check if it moves.

I took a Dremel and opened up the snap ring groove enough to get it mostly in place. I imagine I needed to be more aggressive with the seat sanding. Maybe even grind down the overall width of the seat a bit.

Guess I will be keeping an eye out at the yard for a replacement knuckle at some point. What was the last year of the punch style caliper mounts?

Popping those joints off an old rig in the junkyard without a way to heat them up doesn't sound like fun

 

[SenorNoob]

90-94 for Dana 35. There's little reason not to get 95-97 parts and swap if they're more available to you.

 

[jballard81]

90-94 for Dana 35. There's little reason not to get 95-97 parts and swap if they're more available to you.

it's pretty rare to see 4x4 90-97 at all near me it seems. There's a 94 4x4 at a local yard right now, in fact it's the one i got the chrome grille off of

i'm really going to try to keep to 90-94 as i would want to swap the calipers on both sides and i really don't feel like doing the entire job again (assuming here that i would need to change out the ball joints on the yard find)

 

[SenorNoob]

In that year range, Explorer is the same. I tend to see more Explorers in yards near me.

 

[jballard81]

In that year range, Explorer is the same. I tend to see more Explorers in yards near me.

that is excellent info to have as well! I get a ton of explorers near me, occasionally in the 95-98, rarely in the 90-94 but they are far more likely to be 4x4 than the rangers that make it to my yards it seems.
thanks!

 

[jballard81]

It's all back together. Steering feels about the same, maybe a bit tighter. I knew joints were in bad shape bc sometimes when parked, especially on a hill, the tires would 'lean' in.

Not doing that now so that's good I think. Alignment feels ok-ish, but will get that done in the next couple days.

For my first time doing ball joints it went quite well until that last one. I think I will keep an eye out at the yard for a knuckle but would probably take the time cleaning up mine and maybe thinning it down a touch if needed before giving up on it entirely.

Thanks for all the replies, they helped immensely!