[rcktpwrd]

Working on a '95 Caprice wagon

I am in the process of rebuilding the front suspension and have a concern about the upper ball joint. I got all Moog problem solver parts.
Moog K5208 upper ball joint

Seems the upper ball joint stud isn't going into the knuckle as far as I think it should. But maybe it's the difference in new parts vs old very worn parts? And aftermarket vs OEM. I haven't torqued the nuts yet, but they are about as tight as I could get them with the open end wrench.

Here are some pics.

passenger side all new parts:

drivers side all old parts:

Looks like the gap between the upper control arm and knuckle is too big?

Also, the new upper ball joints came with four large washers, but I have no idea where they might go? The hole in the middle is bigger than the nuts and bolts but smaller than the ball joint stud...

 

[rcktpwrd]

Maybe the washers are spacers for the stud nut. Maybe the nut is bottomed out on the threads? I'll look into it more tomorrow morning...

 

[jayoldschool]

Won't help, but the nuts and bolts are upside down on the new one. Bolts go in from bottom, nuts on top.

 

[rcktpwrd]

Just took this pic

The car is still on jackstands, so suspension at full droop.

 

[1Slammed96SS]

The balljoint is seated properly, it’s the rubber boot that tends to go in the metal sleeve. You are going to have to remove the balljoint and reposition the rubber back in place.

 

[1Slammed96SS]

The rubber boot has a lip on the inside and it should sandwich in place.

 

[1Slammed96SS]

should look like this.

 

[5SSix1caprice]

rcktpwrd, did you get a chance to address your problem? I’ve been riding my moog ball joints for maybe 2000 miles both uppers ball joint rubber seem to sit just like yours. Car was also aligned and haven’t noticed anything strange as far as handling while driving.

 

[rcktpwrd]

I fixed the nuts and bolts and the boot. Got the passenger side almost completed, still have to put in the shock. I got the driver side torn down and rebuilt, still have to reassemble.
Here is the passenger side

Still seems like the upper control arm is sitting a little higher off the knuckle then before...

 

[rcktpwrd]

I got the driver side together today and it sits the same as the passenger side.

 

[Terry #585]

The ball joint stud is in place if the nut and the hole in the stud allow for cotter pin insertion. One of the pictures looks like that is the way they are.

OEM ball studs have a projection beyond the threaded part that is used for factory alignment equipment on the frame build line. Replacement ball studs don't have that projection, for obvious reasons, so the replacement ball stud looks like it is not in the spindle socket as far as the OEM stud. The difference in the length of the stud creates an illusion because the replacement stud is shorter. No worries. Carry on.

 

[rcktpwrd]

Thanks for conferming and the additional info Terry.

It's all back together and both sides look the same. Car goes in tomorrow for new tires and an alignment.