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  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
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Lower Ball Joint

  • Thread starter Thread starter nugget68
  • Start date Start date Jun 26, 2007
N

nugget68

Member
Sep 26, 2005
362
3
19
Jun 26, 2007
#1
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #1
Where can I get a lower ball joint for my 68 coupe. All I see is the lower arms with the ball joint. Surely you can get the ball joont woth out replacing the whole arm, right?
 

jikelly

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 9, 2003
872
53
99
Lubbock Tx
Jun 26, 2007
#2
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #2
You should be able to get one from autozone.
 

geostang351

Member
Mar 30, 2005
946
0
17
Danb., CT
Jun 26, 2007
#3
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #3
nugget68 said:
Where can I get a lower ball joint for my 68 coupe. All I see is the lower arms with the ball joint. Surely you can get the ball joont woth out replacing the whole arm, right?
Click to expand...

I believe the lower ball joints are riveted in place? Thus, the entire arm would need to be replaced.
 
N

nugget68

Member
Sep 26, 2005
362
3
19
Jun 26, 2007
#4
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #4
geostang351 said:
I believe the lower ball joints are riveted in place? Thus, the entire arm would need to be replaced.
Click to expand...

I couldnt find them online at any mustang vendors, and I also looked at Advance Auto Parts website with no luck. I just find it hard to believe that Ford didnt think this through...why would they make it to where you would have to replace the whole control arm when ball joints are a part that should be replaced every so often...
 

68stang351

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
850
9
39
Savoy TX
Jun 26, 2007
#5
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #5
I believe they are pressed in. Why don't you want the whole arm? They're not very expensive.
 

geostang351

Member
Mar 30, 2005
946
0
17
Danb., CT
Jun 26, 2007
#6
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #6
nugget68 said:
I couldnt find them online at any mustang vendors, and I also looked at Advance Auto Parts website with no luck. I just find it hard to believe that Ford didnt think this through...why would they make it to where you would have to replace the whole control arm when ball joints are a part that should be replaced every so often...
Click to expand...

Because ford built these cars to last 5 years and not 40. Why do you think we are all repairing our leaking cowls? Because Ford didn't paint or protect them at all as they were expected to only last for a few years. Same for the ball joints.
 

rbohm

Founding Member
Apr 12, 2002
6,698
550
204
tucson,az
Jun 26, 2007
#7
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #7
and not just the ball joint, but the lower control arm bushing as well.
 

jikelly

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 9, 2003
872
53
99
Lubbock Tx
Jun 26, 2007
#8
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #8
There are bolt on ball joints for the lower control arm, but mustangs originally came with them riveted in place, and it is not fun to remove those rivets.

The whole arm can't cost that much, and you would have the extra comfort of knowing you had new ones.

Oh and screw advance auto parts. They totally hosed me on a steering gearbox.

Store manager:
"You should have come by and check to see if the part was in."

Me:
"I did check in with your people, everyday for the last two weeks I either came by or called."

Store manager:
"No you didn't, or you would have your part."

Me (surprised by the managers raising voice and sudden hostility):
"Huh?"
"Did you even order my parts?"

Store Manager:
"You never came in to pick them up. It's your fault you didn't get your part."

Me (figuring it out):
"Ok well if you didn't want to replace the defective part you sold me before you should have just said so and I would have gone elsewhere to get what I need, like I'm going to do now."

Store Manager:
"Good!"

Me:
"Thanks."

Man was I pissed. I haven't been back since and that was three years ago now.
 

geostang351

Member
Mar 30, 2005
946
0
17
Danb., CT
Jun 26, 2007
#9
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #9
jikelly said:
There are bolt on ball joints for the lower control arm, but mustangs originally came with them riveted in place, and it is not fun to remove those rivets.

The whole arm can't cost that much, and you would have the extra comfort of knowing you had new ones.

Oh and screw advance auto parts. They totally hosed me on a steering gearbox.

Store manager:
"You should have come by and check to see if the part was in."

Me:
"I did check in with your people, everyday for the last two weeks I either came by or called."

Store manager:
"No you didn't, or you would have your part."

Me (surprised by the managers raising voice and sudden hostility):
"Huh?"
"Did you even order my parts?"

Store Manager:
"You never came in to pick them up. It's your fault you didn't get your part."

Me (figuring it out):
"Ok well if you didn't want to replace the defective part you sold me before you should have just said so and I would have gone elsewhere to get what I need, like I'm going to do now."

Store Manager:
"Good!"

Me:
"Thanks."

Man was I pissed. I haven't been back since and that was three years ago now.
Click to expand...

I guess the good thing about your experience there was at least he spoke English
 
N

nugget68

Member
Sep 26, 2005
362
3
19
Jun 26, 2007
#10
  • Jun 26, 2007
  • #10
I guess that I will have to just buy the lower arms then. I was thinking that a ball joint wouldnt cost more than $20 or so, but a control arm is $50. Not a lot of money, but more than $20...
 

CraigMBA

New Member
Mar 24, 2007
783
1
0
Orange, CA
Jun 27, 2007
#11
  • Jun 27, 2007
  • #11
There's cheap.

And there's too cheap.

And there's "I'm boxing my stock pieces and installing a spherical bearing in lieu of the bushing" to which I'd tell you to buy some screw in oval track style ball joints from Speedway.........
 
R

Randy'65

Founding Member
Feb 1, 2000
352
0
17
Richmond, VA
Jun 27, 2007
#12
  • Jun 27, 2007
  • #12
Breaking those rivets (although I remember them to be more like a spot weld, but it's been 20 years) is not fun, plus I remember being afraid of damaging the control arm itself while trying to break the welds. And we didn't even attempt to change the pivot bushing. I got my ball joints from Kanter suspension, but I'm not real sure they are around anymore. Plus they didn't last very long. Mustangs were made to be affordable, and that included making the control arms out of stamped metal as opposed to something more substaintial/expensive that could support a screwed or pressed in ball joint. Something we have to deal with. Just replace the whole arm, but find one with USA/NA components if you can.
 
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