Control arm balljoint to spindle misfit

Hyggmaister · #1 10-18-2015, 02:33 PM

Hi guys,

I noticed my front LEFT camber was quite tilted. On inspection, I found that the control arm was marked "RIGHT", and my local workshop also confirmed that it was too long. So I got a brand new MOOG control arm (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...id=509&jpid=19) that I measured to be about 1 inch shorter than my existing one.

My car is a 98' 2WD XLT with coil springs.
The moog part I bought is made for 2WD with coil springs.

However, the nut on the balljoint is about 2 mm, that is 0,08 inches smaller in diameter than the old one I had. The old control arm fitted the spindle just fine, while the new one has substantial play when fitted to my existing spindle. I tightened the pinch bolt with a lot more than spec torque to see if it would help (pinching the spindle) but it did not.

I have seen the problem the other way around - someone trying to fit a larger, torsion spring car control arm on a 2WD (http://www.ranger forums .com/suspen...rm-help-53483/), but in my case it is the opposite even though I have a 2WD

The dimension difference in the above mentioned case was also 0,17 inch, more than double of the one in my case.

Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?

Tyler46 · #2 10-18-2015, 02:53 PM

The Edge spindles have a larger upper ball joint hole than a coil spring. Very small difference in size but it's enough to where the ball joint slides out of the bolt hole - enough to where the pinch bolt will not grab.
This happened to me before.

I have also seen threads in the past with two identical part numbers, but one fits and one doesn't, I'll try and find a link to it.
Do you have pics of your spindle and both old and new upper arms?

Your spindle could also have been changed out by a previous owner and had Edge spindles installed. I could tell you if you post a pic of them. Probably not, but just so we can cross that off.

Fordzilla80 · #3 10-18-2015, 03:13 PM

Did you get new pinch bolts with the new control arm? I had a similar issue when I swapped spindles on my truck. I had the stock pinch bolts, but the new upper control arms came with new pinch bolts. I used the new pinch bolts, but realized after a few miles that the upper ball joint studs were loose in the spindle. So I took the new pinch bolts out, re-installed the originals, and that solved that.

Hyggmaister · #4 10-19-2015, 02:00 AM

Thanks Fordzilla80, I tried both. They are the same dimension and offered no difference.

Tyler46: Great tip. However, I have searched parts databased and I can only find two different parts;
1. The fatter 4WD torsion spring control arm
2. The slimmer 2WD coil spring control arm

Sadly the closest to a picture I have is this video I brought back to my dealer as proof:

Don't have any pictures of the arms neither but as i said the new one was about one inch shorter (that seems correct as the old one obviously was too long)

I would be delighted if you are able to help out for ex with the EDGE/non-EDGE control arms & spindles.

Fordzilla80 · #5 10-19-2015, 10:55 AM

Although Moog tends to have a great reputation, it's not impossible for them to have a few parts with incorrect tolerances come down the line. I would more than likely chalk this up to an incorrect upper ball joint stud. A new control arm will probably fix your issues.

Tyler46 · #6 10-19-2015, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordzilla80

Although Moog tends to have a great reputation, it's not impossible for them to have a few parts with incorrect tolerances come down the line. I would more than likely chalk this up to an incorrect upper ball joint stud. A new control arm will probably fix your issues.

Yep, I did that and I was fine.

I bought 2 upper control arms from Detroit Axle and they fit just perfect.

Hyggmaister · #7 10-19-2015, 02:20 PM

Thanks a bunch guys.
Took it to my amcar parts pusher earlier today and she agreed to get a new one.

Will be a while until I can refit because of job travelling, but will let you know how it works out.

Hyggmaister · #8 11-23-2015, 01:49 PM

In case of the unlikely scenario anyone wanted an update

:
My parts dealer insisted the balljoint had original specs after checking with her supplier.
Still did not match up, and I found that the spindle was indeed original (marked with part # and production date). A previous owner might have done bit of drilling to make it fit a wrong balljoint, but I don't really know.

Ended up modifying the balljoint by taking it to a mechanical workshop, who could fabricate and press on two steel bushing to make it a few mm thicker. Problem solved.