Ball Joint: Description and Operation

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The lower control arm connects to the steering knuckle through a ball joint mounted at the outboard end of the arm. The ball joint is pressed into the lower control arm and has a non-tapered stud with a notch for steering knuckle pinch bolt clearance. The ball joint stud is clamped and locked to the steering knuckle lower leg using a pinch bolt.

The ball joint is lubricated for life during the manufacturing process. Once lubricated for life, the grease fitting head is snapped off by the manufacturer. This is done to eliminate the possibility of lubrication later in the ball joints life thus damaging the non-vented ball joint seal boot.

The ball joint used on this vehicle is replaceable and, if found defective, can be serviced as a separate component of the lower control arm.