Installing V8 Roadsters Upper Ball Joints – Step 4: Press in the Ball Joint Housing [Project Miata: V8 Roadsters Rebuildable Upper Ball Joint Installation]

By
charlie
– February 15, 2012
Installing V8 Roadsters Upper Ball Joints - Step 4: Press in the Ball Joint Housing

So the first step it is to press in the housing. We used a hydraulic press, but i’m sure you could rig up something with a c-clamp that would do the job just fine.

Once we pressed in the housing we took a flat head screw driver and beat in the control arm flange on 4 sides to help ensure the ball joint housing stays seated. There is a groove just above the ridges on the ball joint where crontrol arm flange can get a good bite. Some folks put a couple of tack welds here instead.

All we are trying to do here is make sure the housing does not come unseated from the control arm during hard driving like you’d expirence on a track day since the upper ball joints were never ment to be replaced.

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About charlie

So in case you haven’t figured it out yet, my name is Charlie Brumfield, and I co-host the Burnout Radio Podcast with Nick Malone. I also Co-Host and write articles for Car Care 101. My ride is the the now infamous Project Miata. I’m also the web guy, the photographer, videographer, editor, writter, audiophile, and graphics monkey for all things Burnout Radio and Car Care 101. I like pie.