'93 Dakota 2 wheel drive, is it normal that the bottom ball joint is pressed in and the top threaded?

Guess who has the wrong ball joints on the way because of this.

Was trying to save time and money. I could clearly see the top one is threaded, the bottom one was so caked with grease/mud/funk, I couldn't readily tell and just guessed it was threaded too.

The joints don't look that bad really, but I figured I'd replace them since I'm tearing everything down to replace the bushings. Truck has 178K

Anybody want to buy a set of threaded lowers?

You remind me of me!

Why can't you return them?

I'm sure I can return them, it was meant more as a joke.

So, why the heck would they have one pressed and one threaded?

So they can sell the entire control arm - OE captive. Don't you love it?

Lot of newer cars have pressed in joints, but are usually held in with a retainer clip.

yup. just like your old 73 wagon. threaded uppers and pressed lowers.
as far as Dakota.... same upper ball joints as an old C body or a B van or a D150. same lowers as the old cars too.... upper bushings are the same as (I forget what exactly,) I think an F body. I just went thru this on my 96.
2wd and 4wd take same upper control arm bushings (have a 92 2wd and a 96 4wd) and same upper ball joints, lowers are different between 2wd and 4wd.

I should say, we MAY have a problem.

Ordered MOOG press in lower ball joints, part # K7025.

They look a lot smaller than the original. Taking the nut off the original and putting it on the new one, the nut doesn't even engage the threads. It just slides down to the taper on the joint.

It's pouring down rain right now so I didn't get to look any closer than what I mentioned above.

I hope this hasn't become a part that was superseded by something that 'may' fit because of age.