kyporsche87

I have a 87 944. I'm trying to rebuild my lower ball joint. Ordered my rebuild kit (944 online.com)and I now have it in hand and I have tried and tried to get it compressed back together so I can put in the circle ring that holds it all in place. It said use a C-clamp too compress it but it just ain't work any tips please !!!!!

75ohm

Step away for a minute...reset everything and use sockets if you have them to compress over the top of the ball itself... this takes patience... I've been there. Take your time.

kyporsche87

Thanks so much but, I have tried the socket on the lower side like on the plateso I don't mess up the hole where the nipple screws in.

75ohm

We have a pressure problem then. Reload the setup again. Get a socket over the top of the ball joint pin but big enough not to touch the pin. Compress from the bottom with the clamp on two sockets.

kyporsche87

Ok so your talking on the topside and use like a large spark socket over the pin but, then what does that socket rest on ? and I think I have the lower socket right setting it on just the lower plate right ??

75ohm

I actually used something even larger than that. You can't, if I recall correctly, apply pressure to both the pin and the plate or you won't compress the ball into the joint socket! Thus, I used a 27mm deep well or something along those lines...

Yabo

Do you have a vice? I really would never want to do this with a c clamp. although i have the track kit so it is more difficult.

75ohm

I did it with a vice... and my vice was foul language... I still have the chip in the tile when all hell broke loose too...

Stien

Lol I will never again rebuild a ball joint, I merely pushed(my entire body weight) on the pin of the ball joint and it all slid together.

75ohm

How long before the hernia healed? Man almighty I am with you...

sam08861

Put the socket (as stated above, it should be a deep socket so that the end of the pin isn't touching) over the pin end, so that it rests on the a-arm and does not touch the pin. (else, you're just pushing the ends into each other)

place the bolt or a smaller socket on the plate end and compress in a vise. It may take a few tries to line it up so the parts don't shoot out, but you'll be able to see the grove and work the circlip in. Seperate the circlip if you have the overlapping type, and guide it in with a short flat-blade screwdriver in a spiraling motion until the whole thing's in.

75ohm

Sam's got it... good deal.

kyporsche87

Ok thanks that sound very possible. You guys are great what a community !!! Please follow up as I will keep in touch.

75ohm

Good luck!

Smoker324

All good advice above. I used a cheap sears valve spring compressor with great success. To protect the threaded hole for the grease fitting I placed a dime over it prior to compressing the joint. Once I got it all lined up it went together fine.