Lampropeltis

Just finished squeezing in a new ball joint (Moog) and I cannot get the rubber seal to seat properly. I am thinking that I should just slap the wheel back on and drop the car back down and that it will take care of itself?!?!?! If this is not the way, then does anyone have any suggestions?

Lampropeltis

anyone? anyone? Beuler........Bueler.....

HalfInchWrench

Rubber seal? I don't recall having to touch the rubber seal when I did ball joints. I used GM parts tho.

The first time I did them, I did not have a ball joint press and could not seat them properly. Put the car back together with partially seated ball joints and they did not seat themselves. I borrowed a ball joint press and had to take everything apart again just to seat them. I now own a ball joint press for about 6 years. Brand new never been used. I'll be ready for the next time.

Lampropeltis

I rented the ball joint press from auto zone and have the ball joint in there good. there is a rubber seal on top that I could not squeeze on very well - I assume it is to contain the grease from the ball joint. I will likely have a local shop try to pop it on.

HalfInchWrench

There is a rubber seal around the outside to keep the dirt ect out of the ball joint. That's what you are talking about right?

Mine was in place on the ball joint and I didn't have to do anything with it. Was the seal off on your new ball joint or did something happen to move the seal?

wellington

the rubber thing on top of the ball joint just sits there.

the knuckle goes over it and gets bolted to the ball joint.

once its bolted down its as good as it gets.


a tip,be very carful when you put the knuckle on the ball joint!!! one little bump and you will screw up the threads on the ball joint!!!

i ****ed up and did that and had to spend a half hour with a tiny screw driver fixing the threads.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

With the Moog joint covers, they have a steel ring in the bottom of them for a tight fit over the joint housing to keep the bad stuff out. Get a small piece of wood like a dowel or something, and altermate tapping it on all the way around the thing until it's seated flat. There's also a small slot in the bottom of it for the grease to squeeze out when you grease the joint, put this where you can get to it somewhat easily so you can wipe the old stuff off.

Here's a pic of one. The larger one is the Moog, the other ones are Energy Suspension poly pieces for the BJ and the tie rods...

Ed

DJCobol

OK, I'm an idiot who thought that the boot had to be pressed in from the bottom with the ball joint itself. I found out quickly that I was indeed wrong. Are the enegry suspension boots at Autozone an acceptable replacement for the one that came with my Moog ball joint? I really dont want to have to shell out $30 for a new ball joint just for a $.05 piece of rubber.

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Yes, they'll be fine.

Ed