Ball joint install
 

Help!

I can’t get the ball joint to slide into the strut. It’s an interference fit and way to tight. I don’t want to use the BFH technique because I am worried about ruining the ball joint. I am going to try heat tonight unless I hear of a better technique.

Please advice!!

Thanks!
BK

What year is your car / struts. Somewhere along the production runs, the ball joint type was changed.

Also, be sure to note how the notch on the ball joint matches a notch on the A-Arm.

Indeed. And make sure any gunk is cleaned from the pin and the bore.

Brian, I think Jim is on target here, you must have the wrong ball joint or don't have the notch lined up. I've installed several ball joints on 911's, including the '72 I had and never had a problem with the interference fit. The 911 went through 3 evolutions of the ball joint:
Ball Joint, 911/912 (1965-68), each
A-341-047-00 $149.50
Ball Joint, 911/912 (1969-71), each
A-341-049-00 $49.40
Ball Joint, 911 (1972-89), each [Photo]
C-341-049-01

Gentlemen!

Thanks for the input. The car is a 73.5T but the struts are from an 86 Carrera. Looking at Kurt’s info, even if I did screw up and order the ball joints for the car instead of the struts, they should be the same. I’ll verify part numbers before I break out the BFH!

So, if I have the right parts, they should slide right together? No heat required? After everything is spotless and aligned of course!

BK

BK,

Yes, things should slide together. I like to use some anitsieze so that parts are easier to remove.

If all parts are correct, it should slide right in. Need some patient and alignment of the ball joint and the strut. I just completed mind past weekend. I won't use heat though.

It is a very close fit, so if it is not clean it can be difficult to assemble. If you repaint the struts and get a bit inside, you will need to clean it out or they won't go together. It's that close.