I've begun my conversion to power disc brakes from manual drums. The project is going just the same as all of my projects. I decided to replace the ball joints along with the new spindles and I found that the new lower ball joints don't fit my lower control arms. The surface on the ball joint that should be pressed into the control arm is 2.003" and the hole in the control arm is 2.008". They just fall out. Is there such a thing as an oversized ball joint? The Auto Zone guy didn't think so. I double checked the part number he sold me and it checks out. Has anybody been down this road before?

Moog used to make a "problem solver" ball joint which was slightly oversized for worn arms.

I've heard that some of the front end parts made lately, even by reputable manufacturers, can have wide tolerences. If you open enough boxes you might find one that fits.

IT MAY BE TIME FOR NEW LOWER CONTROL ARMS

Thanks, Scott. Where would you get something like that? I'll talk to my local auto parts stores.

Terry, you may be right. I hope not though. I was hoping to get some fancy slotted rotors. They won't do much good without lower ball joints.

Just recently, I've found that there are a lot of parts on the market that are supposed to fit the f/g/f don't fit the f/g/f. Ashtray bought--I think it was--at least 2 things neither/none of which fit. The vendor was one of the "expert parts" place that have been mentioned here.

I bought a master cylinder from Advanced Auto Parts that didn't fit. In addition to verifying it as the correct number, they swore it was the correct part and the "previous" owner must have converted something. Well, I have been the owner of the car, in various configurations, since 1977, and I have had at least a half dozen master cyinlders on the car.

I would continue to shop before I condemned the control arms.

Terry could be right, you might just want to get some new lower arms. If you got your current lowers from autozone, I'd look at a more reputable store, and measure theirs for comparison. If you try to press in a 'problem solver' where it is not needed, it can split the arm.

I used to get problem solver moog chassis parts at AL'S Automotive, in Fairview Heights Illinois

I think they were a Carquest store.

There are a few places on line with Moog parts. I cant say they'll have the ones for your year.

Thanks Scott,
I'll try Carquest. I'll have my digital calipers with me.

BTW Autozone also loaned me an internal coil spring compressor that wouldn't fit inside my coil spring. Advanced had one that worked though.

I don't see much difference between the auto parts stores that are available. I think I'll start another thread asking opinions on who's better than who.

O'Reilly also carries Moog. Mine fit just fine, fwiw.

RossettiJ, here are a few measurements for you

Used control arm # 1, 2.000"
Used control amr # 2, 2.008"
Used ball joint #1, 2.003"
Used ball joint #2, 2.008"
New Moog K5103 ball joint # 1, 2.010"
New Moog K5103 ball joint # 2, 2.012"

The carton for the Moog K5103 is marked "problem solver". It's the standard part called out for the '68 Firebird at the online vendor I used.

I've heard of folks tack welding ball joints several spots when they were not interference fitting tightly. I don't know if that is considered an acceptable repair. The weight of the car pulls the joint against the shoulder on the joint. The vehicle weight is not supported by the interference fit. Side loads during cornering are a different story.

I suggest you look for the K5103 from a vendor selling Moog parts and see if that works okay. I think Carquest sells Moog packaged in Carquest cartons. At least that's what the local one told me.

The ball joints I got from PST fit without any problems. Maybe I just lucked out with this set.

This usually comes from a little too agressive cleaning. You can tack them in place with a mig welder. I have seen it done with great success.
Jim

Mig it a few spots; that's what I would do, after getting the Moog K5103's. I just didn't want to say that on a safety related part. A local welder can do that for you for $20 or less.

When the repro vendors miss a parking lamp cutout size in a valance by nearly 1/4" and the lens won't fit, what chance is there that a repro control arm fabricated of thinner material is okay?

If the original control arm is bad, you can buy a used original one or go with one of the performance shops who make tubular arms.

Look up Tamraz in the archives, lol.

I found a set at NAPA that worked. The set I bought from Autozone were 2.003" in diameter. I returned them and they offered no better solution. At NAPA I bought a set that were 2.014" in diameter and they pressed in properly. I happened to be in Alabama on business this week and found a set at O'reilly that were 2.010" in diameter but I wondered what the airport security people would do with little grenade looking things in my bag.