Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Rplacing Struts

I am replacing struts on a 1996 Contour 4 cylinder. Got every thing a part on the right side. Started putting it back together. Got the strut in the knuckle but can't get the ball joint back into the knuckle. It does not look like it lines up, looks like the knuckle is out too far. Also I can not depress the lower arm enough to clear the ball joint. When I jack up the knuckle it moves further away from the car.

First, can you pull out the axle and not have it go back in? And is there a trick to get the ball joint back in the knuckle?

I did the same procedure as in the "How To" with out knowing it.

Rich S.

Check to see if the inner CV joint (tripod) has come out of its housing. If it did, the knuckle will be too far out, like you state. The hard part, if this is what has happened, is getting the tripod back into the housing. It is much easier if you have the special "earless" CV boot clamp pliers to release the clamp and peel back the boot so you can see what you are doing. Also clamp a 2 foot 2x4 or a 2x2 board to the control arm for extra leverage. I sit on the board and it easily holds the arm down as you try to get the ball joint onto the knuckle.

How will I know if the inner CV joint (tripod) has come out of its housing with out taking it apart? Can I wiggle it back in? I have done struts before but not on a front wheel drive car. I like the 2X4 idea.

Rich S

The 2X4 idea worked great but the knuckle is out about an inch or so too far. Am I going to have to take out the axle or peel back the cover? Is it definitely the inner CV joint?

Rich S.

OMG thats crazy that you guys are having such a hard time. i have had the axles both pop out of the trany and half shaft brace and never had a hard time. they always just pop back in. any ways take your crow bar and place it in the lower arm so as to pry it down with your foot. position the knuckle and ball joint. stand on the crow bar and push in the knuckle till the ball joint touches the knuckle hole. then get rough with the thing. jerk and pull and pry until the ball joint starts to go in. and wha la. ive done it many times. dont give up youll get it. btw i have had the cv joint at about an 80 degree angle while pushing the axle out of the knuckle with a puller and didnt damage anything so im willing to bet it can take some abuse.

yeah what eepals says. although not all model years have the same tripod design. for example one particular early '98 SE has the bearings which can not fall off. the jury is still out as to what happened to my boot (I suppose I might've pinched it too, although it did not look like that...), but I just finished replacing it and put together a short howto w/ pretty pictures.

to clarify what others said: the tripod has to have about two inches of travel in and out of tripod housing. you should be able to get it back in w/o a problem. may be you want to get the strut out of the knuckle to have more freedom in all directions. may be you want to remove two-piece plastic shield to get better view. if all else fails you can unclamp reusable low profile clamp (long nose 90 degrees pliers work best if you can't get special tool) you will need good grip to lock it back. you will not have to pull the axle.

as a side note, I had my share of problems w/ the control arm (4-bolt), but it was w/ the lack of vertical space: I had to lower subframe a little to get ball joint stud in. once you finish one side, the other one is easy though

hey, I just noticed, all these CV boot troubles: it must be a NJ thing