Ball joint install

[BK911]

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

[Jim Smolka]

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.

[Superman]

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

[Rot 911]

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

[BK911]

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

[Jim Smolka]

BK,

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

[andyu911]

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.

[Chuck Moreland]

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.