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Proforged upper ball joint #2735602
01/22/20 02:04 PM
01/22/20 02:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 299
Hinckley, Ohio
KWF340 Offline OP
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KWF340  Offline OP
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Hinckley, Ohio
Has anyone used the Proforged upper ball joints and if so did you have any issues? Mine seem to be a very tight fit in the control arm and before I start forcing things I just wanted to see if this is the norm.

The first pic shows the “old” ball joint sitting in the control arm (I believe the control arm is original to the car). Notice how it drops all the way to the threads. The second pic shows the Proforged ball joint on the same control arm (part number 101-10126 – which corresponds to a '69 B-body). Notice how much distance there is from the threads to the control arm.

The Proforged ball joint is a VERY snug fit in the control arm and it will require some force to get it to move down so the threads engage with the control arm (this doesn't seem right to me). My next step is to put the ball joint in the freezer for a few hours and heat the control arm to see if that helps.

Has anyone seen this before or have any thoughts? For what its worth the control arms are bare (just RPM'd).

Thanks.

IMG_0773.JPGIMG_0774.JPG

1968 Charger R/T, 440 Auto, GG1;
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4-speed, T5;
1969.5 Road Runner, 440-6, 4-speed, 96;
1970 Duster 340, 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Charger R/T SE, 440 (496), Auto, EB3;
1970 Dart Swinger 340 (416), 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Corvette coupe, LS5, 4-speed, Daytona yellow;
2000 Corvette coupe, LS1, 6-speed, Twin Turbo, Torch red.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2735619
01/22/20 03:05 PM
01/22/20 03:05 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 757
Toronto, Ont, Canada
boydsdodge Offline
super stock
boydsdodge  Offline
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Toronto, Ont, Canada
Yes and yes tight. You have to remove the black paint from threads, that help a lot with install also use some anti seize before assembly.
The other problem I had was lower ball joints would not except grease, I could not find any obstructions behind grease fitting, changed grease fittings, still no go.
Client wanted to put car away for winter, so once he is driving it again he will be bringing back for me to check if the drive to and from storage helped with clearance or I am installing fast wearing moogs.

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2735620
01/22/20 03:06 PM
01/22/20 03:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,666
North Dakota
6PakBee Online content
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Have you measured the OD of the joint below the threads? Mr. Caliper is our friend!


"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: 6PakBee] #2735621
01/22/20 03:12 PM
01/22/20 03:12 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 299
Hinckley, Ohio
KWF340 Offline OP
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KWF340  Offline OP
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Hinckley, Ohio
Originally Posted by boydsdodge
Yes and yes tight. You have to remove the black paint from threads, that help a lot with install also use some anti seize before assembly.
The other problem I had was lower ball joints would not except grease, I could not find any obstructions behind grease fitting, changed grease fittings, still no go.
Client wanted to put car away for winter, so once he is driving it again he will be bringing back for me to check if the drive to and from storage helped with clearance or I am installing fast wearing moogs.

Thanks - I'll try removing the paint and see if that helps. I also have the Proforged lower ball joints. I haven't tried to grease them up, but from what you are telling me I'm starting to wish I didn't go with them.

Originally Posted by 6PakBee
Have you measured the OD of the joint below the threads? Mr. Caliper is our friend!

No not yet. I actually thought about that after I posted. I'll take a measurement tonight.


1968 Charger R/T, 440 Auto, GG1;
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4-speed, T5;
1969.5 Road Runner, 440-6, 4-speed, 96;
1970 Duster 340, 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Charger R/T SE, 440 (496), Auto, EB3;
1970 Dart Swinger 340 (416), 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Corvette coupe, LS5, 4-speed, Daytona yellow;
2000 Corvette coupe, LS1, 6-speed, Twin Turbo, Torch red.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2735629
01/22/20 03:30 PM
01/22/20 03:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,890
Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Offline
Special needs idiot
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Benton, IL.
Over the years, I have had upper ball joints that I have had to use 3/4" air impacts to twist in and have had some that wouldn't tighten up, only spin and spin. I'ld throw some lube on the threads, internal and external, and hit it with the impact. Worse that could happen is that you would have to replace them. But I bet it will go with enough persuasion.


Master, again and still
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: DaveRS23] #2735641
01/22/20 04:49 PM
01/22/20 04:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,348
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
The Doctor is in.
Neil  Offline
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Eagle, Idaho
I chickened out and bought NOS ones on the last ones I did. You know they should fit right and were old school USA made as well.

For the install I have always been able to turn them in by hand with a breaker bar followed by a torque wrench. I like being able to feel by hand what is going on as far as binding up or not.

One set I did that was a little too loose I took a crescent wrench and gently bent the control arm opening inward on itself by going around the outside many times over. I was able to get the torque I needed so it did work.

Last edited by Neil; 01/22/20 04:54 PM.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2737337
01/28/20 07:49 AM
01/28/20 07:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 145
Australia
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dodgy Offline
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Australia
from the pic it don't look like it will go in without damaging the arm, there's a whole lotta space before the threads it might just split the flange open, top pic look right to me. sorry no help here.

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: dodgy] #2737374
01/28/20 10:56 AM
01/28/20 10:56 AM
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Posts: 13,544
md
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mopars4ever Offline
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md
NOS 2298534 ball joints are out of the question. Nobody was them and if you do find them they are going to be expensive. Maybe try a moog brand?

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2737382
01/28/20 11:23 AM
01/28/20 11:23 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Online content
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Online Content
"Butt Crack Bob"

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north of coder
Originally Posted by 6PakBee
Have you measured the OD of the joint below the threads? Mr. Caliper is our friend!

No not yet. I actually thought about that after I posted. I'll take a measurement tonight.
[/quote]

what did the measurement difference turn out to be ?
beer

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: moparx] #2737418
01/28/20 01:07 PM
01/28/20 01:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 299
Hinckley, Ohio
KWF340 Offline OP
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KWF340  Offline OP
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Hinckley, Ohio
Originally Posted by moparx

what did the measurement difference turn out to be ?
beer


I've been feeling under the weather the last few days so I haven't gone out and worked on it. I'll measure them tonight and see what the difference is.


1968 Charger R/T, 440 Auto, GG1;
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4-speed, T5;
1969.5 Road Runner, 440-6, 4-speed, 96;
1970 Duster 340, 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Charger R/T SE, 440 (496), Auto, EB3;
1970 Dart Swinger 340 (416), 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Corvette coupe, LS5, 4-speed, Daytona yellow;
2000 Corvette coupe, LS1, 6-speed, Twin Turbo, Torch red.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2737548
01/28/20 10:04 PM
01/28/20 10:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 299
Hinckley, Ohio
KWF340 Offline OP
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KWF340  Offline OP
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Hinckley, Ohio
Just measured the original and the new uppers. The difference between the two is about 4 thousandths, and that was with the new ball joint still cold from being in the freezer. I pressed them in until the threads just got to the top of the control arm and then hit them with the impact. It did not take much force to press them in to the threads.

The big difference between the two is the old ones have a tapered front end (the taper ending about a quarter inch from the front end), while the new ones do not. This makes the original easier to get started into the hole.


Last edited by KWF340; 01/28/20 10:10 PM.

1968 Charger R/T, 440 Auto, GG1;
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4-speed, T5;
1969.5 Road Runner, 440-6, 4-speed, 96;
1970 Duster 340, 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Charger R/T SE, 440 (496), Auto, EB3;
1970 Dart Swinger 340 (416), 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Corvette coupe, LS5, 4-speed, Daytona yellow;
2000 Corvette coupe, LS1, 6-speed, Twin Turbo, Torch red.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2737576
01/29/20 12:27 AM
01/29/20 12:27 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,677
Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk Offline
I Live Here
Jim_Lusk  Offline
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Fresno, CA
Not sure if they're the same part number (too lazy to check), but I installed a pair of Pro Forged ball joints (actually all four and all were screw in) in a '57 Dodge. The uppers were especially tight, but I got them in and they aren't going anywhere. I think my son has a set on order for his Dart so we'll wee how those go.

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: KWF340] #2737655
01/29/20 11:46 AM
01/29/20 11:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Online content
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Online Content
"Butt Crack Bob"

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Posts: 19,237
north of coder
thanks for the measurement, and i'm glad you got them to work !
beer

Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: moparx] #2737659
01/29/20 11:58 AM
01/29/20 11:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
master
Bad340fish  Offline
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Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
I would imagine the aftermarket might build in a small amount of oversize since they know this is going in 50 year old stuff most likely. Maybe?

I haven't used pro forged on my Barracuda yet but I bought them for my Jeep a few years ago. So far the ball joints from them have out lasted the moog stuff subtantially! My jeep has oversized tires and ball joints are kind of regular service, the pro forged stuff is hanging in way better.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: Bad340fish] #2737989
01/30/20 08:59 AM
01/30/20 08:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 299
Hinckley, Ohio
KWF340 Offline OP
enthusiast
KWF340  Offline OP
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Hinckley, Ohio
Originally Posted by moparx
thanks for the measurement, and i'm glad you got them to work !
beer


Thanks!

Originally Posted by Bad340fish
I would imagine the aftermarket might build in a small amount of oversize since they know this is going in 50 year old stuff most likely. Maybe?

I haven't used pro forged on my Barracuda yet but I bought them for my Jeep a few years ago. So far the ball joints from them have out lasted the moog stuff subtantially! My jeep has oversized tires and ball joints are kind of regular service, the pro forged stuff is hanging in way better.


Good to know that they've been trouble-free for you. I was a little worried at first, but it didn't take much to get them in. It does make sense that they would be slightly oversized to make sure the threads bite in control arms that likely have been through several ball joints.


1968 Charger R/T, 440 Auto, GG1;
1969 Super Bee, 383, 4-speed, T5;
1969.5 Road Runner, 440-6, 4-speed, 96;
1970 Duster 340, 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Charger R/T SE, 440 (496), Auto, EB3;
1970 Dart Swinger 340 (416), 4-speed, EV2;
1970 Corvette coupe, LS5, 4-speed, Daytona yellow;
2000 Corvette coupe, LS1, 6-speed, Twin Turbo, Torch red.
Re: Proforged upper ball joint [Re: moparx] #2738030
01/30/20 11:06 AM
01/30/20 11:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,666
North Dakota
6PakBee Online content
I Live Here
6PakBee  Online Content
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Posts: 10,666
North Dakota
Originally Posted by moparx
thanks for the measurement, and i'm glad you got them to work !
beer


X2 up


"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".






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