What the?!? Ball joint problem--maybe?

So I was under the Ty tonight replacing the idler arm and changing the oil. I immediately took notice of my destroyed POLY bump stops I put in less than a year ago.



I thought polyurethane was practically indestructible. The front is lowered a little, but nothing drastic.

But what's more disturbing is the contact between the upper control arm and the knuckle. This first pic is with the suspension hanging.



This second pic is with the suspension loaded from underneath with a floor jack. The contact is painfully evident here.



What do you guys think about that? I don't understand how that can occur except when the suspension is hanging? Why would there be damage like that? I can't think of any other time that the suspension would contact like that?

And then there's the thing I can't believe I went 20,000 miles without noticing. (That's about how much I've driven the Ty since buying it.) It's a little tough to see, but BOTH upper ball joints each have three washers between the castle nuts and the knuckles. WTF is with that?!? The ball joints have obviously been replaced before, because the fasteners are bolts and nuts, not the factory rivets. I wonder if the incorrect ball joints were used when they were replaced?? They don't seem to be loose, but should I take that chance any longer now that I know about the hokey setup? Do you think that the weird ball joint setup could possibly be the cause of the control arm contact?



The ball joint pic is kinda off kilter because of the angle I held the camera at.

PLEASE forgive my amateurish picture posting, it's my very first attempt at it. I know I'm not doing it quite right, but I think this will at least let you guys see what I'm talking about.
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: What the?!? Ball joint problem--maybe?

Those ball joint look old from the build up on them. I have never seen the a-arm contact the spindle like that. Maybe someone use a poor quality ball joint or its the wrong part number that someone adapted.

I have seen poly bumps stops explode hitting too hard. At a ride height of 26-26.5" most of our truck will be on the factory bump stop a good portion of the of the time. If you ridding lower than stock you might want to trim them, but you do need them so you don't take out the front cladding.
 

gmcturbo

Active member
Re: What the?!? Ball joint problem--maybe?

looks like the spindle has the tapered hole where the balljoint goes in oversized. anyways i would replace those uppers and check the hole.
 

Houseofperformance

switchhappy!!!
Re: What the?!? Ball joint problem--maybe?

this are the wrong balljoints. i had the same ones and tried to install them, but the tapered rod diameter is to small, so when you try to tighten the castle nut you start to pull the a-arm closer to the spindle till you run out of threads on the rod. that´s why he used the washers. install the right ones an you should be set.
 

'JustDreamin'

Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: What the?!? Ball joint problem--maybe?

And I'd definitely check the tapered holes. If they're damaged / show any wear, replace the knuckle.

Luckily, those knuckles are stock 4wd S10 pieces, not something super extra special, and as such should be available in just about any salvage yard.

'JustDreamin'
 
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