Lower ball joint failure on uneven ground

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

This is turning into a real nightmare. I've tried prying, jacking, beating, ratchet straps and everything else I can think of to get this ball joint to line up and it's just not happening. There must be something fundamentally wrong with what I'm doing, because it's not even close. Does anyone have any advice? The pictures show how far off it is. The local mechanic shop wants $400 to pick it up and bolt the lower ball joint on.

 

[Gerdo]

Remove the ball joint from the knuckle.
Drop the ball joint stud into the lower control arm and loosely attach with the nut.
Swing the knuckle over the ball joint and secure with the 4 bolts (lock tite them).
Torque everything.

 

[MyHigh]

I wonder what would happen if you lifted the opposing rear end?

Might it create an angle that would be beneficial?

Just a thought.....

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

Remove the ball joint from the knuckle.
Drop the ball joint stud into the lower control arm and loosely attach with the nut.
Swing the knuckle over the ball joint and secure with the 4 bolts (lock tite them).
Torque everything.

tried that. It is about an inch off. When I swing the knuckle over the ball joint the knuckle sticking too far out, basically the outside bolt holes of the ball joint are lining up with the inside of the knuckle. The whole knuckle needs to go in towards the vehicle about an inch. When I lift the knuckle, it pulls out away from the vehicle slightly.

 

[nevada]

make sure the inner joint is still in the cup on the cv axle.
a lot of times they will pull out, and get caught, not allowing the knuckle to go IN far enough to line up the BJ. I suspect this is the problem you are having.

 

[amalik]

Sorry to see this. Looks like you were able to avoid the major losses that other people generally run into because their LBJ's fail while driving!

Just curious -- you stated your mileage but, when was the last time (if any) you checked for play in your LBJ's?

 

[JBurt]

If the cv axle is all the way in, is your down travel being limited? The ubj usually limits down travel. However it looks like you've tried jacking the lower control arm up, so that probably isn't the problem.

Did you try the ratchet strap like Doc mentioned?

Use a ratchet strap.

Go through the UCA, and around the LCA. Then tighten it down. Move the spindle as it lowers to line up the parts.

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

make sure the inner joint is still in the cup on the cv axle.
a lot of times they will pull out, and get caught, not allowing the knuckle to go IN far enough to line up the BJ. I suspect this is the problem you are having.

I suspect you are correct, unfortunately I'm mechanically ignorant. That is exactly what is happening, the knuckle will not go IN far enough to line up with the lower control arm. How do I check to see if the inner joint is still in the cup?

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

Sorry to see this. Looks like you were able to avoid the major losses that other people generally run into because their LBJ's fail while driving!

Just curious -- you stated your mileage but, when was the last time (if any) you checked for play in your LBJ's?

Luckily I was literally almost at a standstill when it failed, I have a pretty big ice bump at the end of my driveway from the snowplows and I know my suspension components are in pretty rough shape so I take it REALLY slow over that bump. I didn't drag or move forward at all when it happened, basically the right side just dropped straight down. I was just hoping she'd make it till the snow melted since I don't have a garage. Really thankful it didn't happen at speed. Really lucky.

 

[nevada]

I suspect you are correct, unfortunately I'm mechanically ignorant. That is exactly what is happening, the knuckle will not go IN far enough to line up with the lower control arm. How do I check to see if the inner joint is still in the cup?

is the inner boot stretched out looking? you should be able to move the axle in the inner joint in/out a couple inches. if not, then it is stuck out.

you'll need to turn the axle, while trying to get it lined up. It can be a ***** to get in.

 

[flyinbrick]

Look at your inner CV boot, it looks stretched out more than normal. Compare it to the other side. That inner joint should expand and contract freely. You *should* be able to contract the axle by simply pushing on the spindle. If you can't, the only thing that comes to mind is a messed up axle or the inner joint has pulled out of the "tulip" and is caught on the edge unable to go back in unless you re-position it. Not sure if the inner boot would allow that kind of expansion. In any case, take a look at that.

Man, that sucks you have to work outside on a freakin patch of ice. Hang in there and keep us updated.

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

is the inner boot stretched out looking? you should be able to move the axle in the inner joint in/out a couple inches. if not, then it is stuck out.

you'll need to turn the axle, while trying to get it lined up. It can be a ***** to get in.

yep, went out and looked at it and the boot is definitely more stretched on the bad side. Again I'm mechanically ignorant so bear with me. The way it's being described is like a joint out of socket, a dislocated shoulder or something. Is that right? So I need to pop it back in? Is that possible? If so, how. The inner part of the CV axle is definitely immobile, at least in the sense that it won't move in or out at all. I just need to get it on 4 wheels so I can bring it to a friends garage and replace it all.

 

[nevada]

yep, went out and looked at it and the boot is definitely more stretched on the bad side. Again I'm mechanically ignorant so bear with me. The way it's being described is like a joint out of socket, a dislocated shoulder or something. Is that right? So I need to pop it back in? Is that possible? If so, how. The inner part of the CV axle is definitely immobile, at least in the sense that it won't move in or out at all. I just need to get it on 4 wheels so I can bring it to a friends garage and replace it all.

yes, basically.

#2 needs lined up, and slid back into #1.


it can be done, but sometimes its as pain. you might even need a helper. someone to lay underneath, and push up on the axle, while someone else is working with the knuckle. rotating and pushing it inwards until it goes back in.

it will not take a lot of force, once its lined up, it will slide back in easily. don't take a hammer to it, that wont help, and likely only make things worse.

 

[nevada]

it might have this style of inner joint.





either way tho, the solution is the same. it just needs to be lined up, so it can slide back together.


if you need to, slide a bar in behind the axle/unbolt it. whichever style it is, remove the axle completely, then get it back together. worst case, you remove and replace the inner boot to get it lined up. but you should be able to do it with the boot in place.

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

it might have this style of inner joint.

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either way tho, the solution is the same. it just needs to be lined up, so it can slide back together.


if you need to, slide a bar in behind the axle, and pop it out of the differential, then get it back together. worst case, you remove and replace the inner boot to get it lined up. but you should be able to do it with the boot in place.

Thanks again Nevada. I'll have to give this a try tomorrow. Unfortunately it snowed last night so I couldn't get to working on it until about 1 in the afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and a balmy 35 degrees so I'll get back to it then.

Thanks again everyone, I'll update tomorrow.

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

:becky::becky::becky:

Figured it out! I ended up just saying f*** it and cut the boot off the inner cv joint. And yep, it was popped out. took 2 seconds, literally to put it back in. Throw in some grease put on a new boot and put her all back together and fixed! Here's what it looks like in there in case anyone is curious. Is there anything I should know about putting it back in? Is there a certain depth or will it all line up properly once I reconnect the ball joint and tie rod?

 

[nevada]

yep, just put it all back together, and it will be correct.

 

[txbonds]

If you go back to page 1 this is what I was trying to describe when I said the cv axles stretch and need to be pushed back in sometimes on one that has some wear. The new ones seemed stiffer but when I took my old ones off they pulled out like this and I had to push them back in.

Glad you got it figured out.

 

[white_n_slow]

I can't get over just how lucky you are that your LBJ failure happened in your own driveway!

 

[JBurt]

Glad you've got it figured out. I'd have a hard time leaving my rig half in my driveway for sure.

Do you have any pics of how the ball joint failed? Just curious.