While removing a stubborn lower ball joint, I accidentally got the press a bit off center and managed to lightly carve a bit of thread grooves into the seat where the ball joint sits in the axle C (I hope that's what its called). Should I grab a rounded file and try to smooth them out? I don't wanna accidentally file away too much material as to the ball joint would be loose somehow. Any advice appreciated
Ball joint press damaged ball joint seat on inner C. Fix?
- Thread starter jcw
- Start date
If it does go in loose, you can dimple it in a crosshatch pattern then apply loctite 680 retaining compound and press it back in. Also, as you are pressing in the new ball joint, whack the C with a hammer which should help drive them in straighter since it will release any bind.
Yes I would dress any raised material prior to pressing the new joint in.
This works well and IMO is a better solution than those knurled ball joints out there.
I'll give it a light smoothing with a file then. Thanks
I think what you are concerned with is the damage and I would just smooth and reinstall you didn't do anything detrimental
My instinct would be to not do anything. And just reinstall the ball joint and let it mow down the burr you made.
I’d clean up any burr that you lifted into the ball joint hole, then install it. If it feels like it presses nice, run it. If it feels loose, pull it back out and dimple the bore and use the locktite
Why clean up the unintentional burr when we wouldn't clean up the intentional dimples?
Here's pics for reference. Seems better to smooth out with a file instead of just forcing it in, but then again I started this post because I didn't know the best approach. Interesting to see the differing opinions
I understand the concept you are after. Im just questioning whether it is a good idea to try to force the ball joint into the space with the thread scars being raised a decent amount above the surface of the rest of the seat. I haven't yet tried to put the joint in, so the fit may be ok, even with grinding down the scars. Just trying to get a consensus from the community
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Is there any evidence that dimpled or knurled ball joints could damage the inner surface of the ball joint holes?
Is there any evidence that dimpled or knurled ball joints could damage the inner surface of the ball joint holes?
Knurled BJs are famous for it. The entire concept of dimpling is a corrective measure to make a ball joint fit into a damaged yoke by raising the surfaces to re-establish an interference fit. Stuff is going to get mowed down again in the process of installation.
Okay, correct me if I'm wrong, but:
Both knurled and dimpled ball joints stretch the ball joint hole, on purpose. That is their way of fixing a damaged inner C.
Would then a normal ball joint in a scarred ball joint hole do the same thing?
I'm not sure. My first thought is that the hardness of the metal used for inner C is probably greater than that of the ball joint.
We won't know unless he installs new ball joints as is, and then removes them.
All I'm trying to figure out, is whether we can equate dimpled ball joints to a scarred ball joint hole.
For me, its the intentional vs unintentional. You're probably correct, it will displace the burr and be fine. However, If I'm doing it, I'm going to apply the dimpling evenly to make sure there isn't any change of the displaced material "biasing" the fit of the joint. In fact, if it were mine, I would clean up the raised material and then dimple the ball joint if I needed too. That's just me though...I've never been the most efficient mechanic.
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