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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 439
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Ok, I don't have a lot of time to write this so I be brief and expound a bit later. Backing out of my driveway yesterday and my steering starts to feel all wierd. I get out and My passenger side wheel is at 15 degree angle and rubbing on the back of the wheel well. The steering knuckle had popped right off of the ball joint!! It also pulled the CV joint out of socket and pulled the boot off! I man handled it back together enoung to get it back into the garage (about 15ft) and put it up on jackstands.
I just got done putting my new D2 setup on last weekend and have been driving it everday until yesterday. Why, How, could it just pop out like that? I made sure the ball joint was seated and the pinch bolt tightened. I'm almost scared I won't want to drive it after I get it back together!
Ohsigmachi '96 GL MTX Zetec
--I don't won't to hurt you, but it's still on my list of things to do.--
View project Slippery Slope
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 508
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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You Tq it specs, I think 62ftlbs? If it was seated all the way, and the pinch bolt tight (it passes threw the notch in the ball) I dont' see how it would of popped out... 
JD a.k.a Fingers
"Don't Panic"
'98 Contour GL 2.0L VCT ATX 88k
'98 Contour LX 2.5L MTX 120k
Street racing can kill
just less of a chance with a 2.0
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by jd2-98s:
You Tq it specs, I think 62ftlbs? If it was seated all the way, and the pinch bolt tight (it passes threw the notch in the ball) I dont' see how it would of popped out...
I suspect the ball joint wasn't fully seated and you installed the pinch bolt over top of the ball joint pin. I just installed a control arm last weekend & had to encourage the ball joint into place with a little gentle help from an extra floor jack.
You gotta make sure the rubber dust boot gets good n squished under the knuckle. It's an easy mistake to make because even not fully seated, the boot rests against the knuckle so the ball joint LOOKS like it's in place, but really isn't.
Last edited by TourDeForce; 06/11/06 02:34 PM.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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This made me nervous as I just did struts and LCA's. On one side I had to tap the LCA up to fully seat it, and I was worried that the other side that "popped right in" might not actually be in all the way.
I figured out you can just reach under and rub your finger over the top of the knuckle - the ball joint stud protudes a few mm's over the top if it's all the way in. Both mine were good luckily
97 Contour SE MTX
K&N 3530, UR UDP, 19# Injectors, mystery mod, FMS wires, Fordchip.com chip, SVT: TB, Flywheel, clutch, exhaust
04 Grand Caravan SXT
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Joined: May 2000
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There is a bevel around the ball joint "nub" and when seated properly, you should be able to see through the hole where the bolt goes and see a clear path for the bolt to go.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 439
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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I think this was a combination of:
1) The Ball joint not being seated properly
2) not cleaning off all of the Penetrating lubicant from the back of the knuckle
3) The shock wasn't lined up correctly (it stuck out away from the car more than it should have, but I got it into the knouckle originaly inspite of that)
Ohsigmachi '96 GL MTX Zetec
--I don't won't to hurt you, but it's still on my list of things to do.--
View project Slippery Slope
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