 Ball Joint Install, Strut or Control Arm First |
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| DennisV |
  Dec 24 2024, 11:27 AM
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#1
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Senior Member  Group: Members Posts: 565 Joined: 8-August 20 From: Santa Rosa, CA Member No.: 24,575 Region Association: Northern California 
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What is the best approach for installing the ball joints? I have seen threads where folks install them to the struts first. I've also read where they have been installed to the control arm first. Haven't done this before, so I have no personal frame of reference.
So strut or control arm first? While on or off the car? The front suspension is completely off our car, except for the steering rack. Trying to determine the best order of operations to minimize potential issues and grief. I have plenty of other challenges. 1970 914-6, if it matters. Thanks. |
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| Superhawk996 |
Dec 24 2024, 11:57 AM
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#2
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,598 Joined: 25-August 18 From: Woods of N. Idaho Member No.: 22,428 Region Association: Galt's Gulch
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The more important thing to make install easy is to have the proper ball tool for the threaded collar.
I prefer to have the control arms on the car. That way you have something to torque against. That also allows me to use a jack to keep some upward pressure on the ball joint tool while I’m torquing the collar which keeps it from slipping off the collar. I’ve never had a hoist or a lift table to install the whole front end as an assembly so that feeds my preference for piecemeal assembly. |
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| DennisV |
Dec 24 2024, 12:11 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 565 Joined: 8-August 20 From: Santa Rosa, CA Member No.: 24,575 Region Association: Northern California
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QUOTE(Superhawk996 @ Dec 24 2024, 09:57 AM)  The more important thing to make install easy is to have the proper ball tool for the threaded collar. I prefer to have the control arms on the car. Thanks for the tip. I have the P280B Ball Joint Nut Socket made by Jimmy Tidewell.  So you do ball joint to control arm on the car? Then the strut. As opposed to ball joint to strut off the car, then connect to control arm on the car. I am probably overcomplicating it. I just have limited time with the car, so I try to plan everything in advance as methodically as possible. |
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| Krieger |
Dec 24 2024, 12:33 PM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,769 Joined: 24-May 04 From: Santa Rosa CA Member No.: 2,104 Region Association: None
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I found that installing the a arm on the car first is the easiest. Then ball joint, then strut.
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| Superhawk996 |
Dec 24 2024, 12:34 PM
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#5
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,598 Joined: 25-August 18 From: Woods of N. Idaho Member No.: 22,428 Region Association: Galt's Gulch
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QUOTE(DennisV @ Dec 24 2024, 02:11 PM) So you do ball joint to control arm on the car? Then the strut. Yes. You will have to use a pry bar to lever the control arm down a bit to get the ball joint pin into the bottom of the strut but it’s really not hard. |
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| bkrantz |
Dec 24 2024, 08:15 PM
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#6
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,175 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains
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QUOTE(Superhawk996 @ Dec 24 2024, 10:57 AM) The more important thing to make install easy is to have the proper ball tool for the threaded collar. I prefer to have the control arms on the car. That way you have something to torque against. That also allows me to use a jack to keep some upward pressure on the ball joint tool while I’m torquing the collar which keeps it from slipping off the collar. Agree with both. |
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| 914Sixer |
Dec 25 2024, 07:42 AM
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#7
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 9,034 Joined: 17-January 05 From: San Angelo Texas Member No.: 3,457 Region Association: Southwest Region
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I am the guy that does it ass backward. I install the ball joint in strut. It is very easy then to rotate the joint into A arm when you start up with it.
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| mlindner |
Dec 25 2024, 08:25 AM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,591 Joined: 11-November 11 From: Merrimac, WI Member No.: 13,770 Region Association: Upper MidWest
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QUOTE(Krieger @ Dec 24 2024, 12:33 PM) I found that installing the a arm on the car first is the easiest. Then ball joint, then strut. Yup, I'm with Andy |
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| rjames |
Dec 25 2024, 03:30 PM
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#9
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I'm made of metal Group: Members Posts: 4,158 Joined: 24-July 05 From: Shoreline, WA Member No.: 4,467 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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Another vote for installing the control arm first, then the ball joint, then the strut. I just went through this a couple of months ago.
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