JAA 4.2

Hi guys,

I'm stuck. I put new upper and lower control arms on the car changed the wheel bearings. Well, now I'm ready to put the uprights back on the car. I can't the front lower ball joint to fit into the upright. Is there some trick? It just doesn't look like it will fit. The lower joint is angled all the way out towards where the wheel would be, but it won't slide down into the steel bushing as the top of the control arm is contacting the edge of the pocket and can't slip in. I'm at a loss.

Any and all thoughts would be appreciated.

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. Should be posted in a minute...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55990/dsc_1894.jpg">
And this is what's been keeping me busy and off this forum..
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55990/dsc_1891.jpg">

btruby

Its been a year since I did those, but I remember struggling with that same issue.

MikekiM@PureMS

pop the lower fork of the shock off the lower control arm. Then use a floor jack and lift the rotor assembly. It needs to be near ride height in order to insert the ball joint stud.

JAA 4.2

None of the other control arms are connected. I can orient the upright in any direction and still can't get the joint in. I honestly think the tapered shaft on the ball joint is too big to fit into the steel sleeve on the upright. My car is a pretty early build A6 4.2 and was made in 1999. Maybe something changed on the later cars, or I bought the wrong arms from purems?

Thoughts? Thanks!

John

MikekiM@PureMS

Is your control arm kit spec'd for Aluminum uprights?

Check the length of the ball joint stud old vs. new. If they aren't identical in length you have the wrong parts.

Boston Driver

I typically feel like this when it comes to suspension stuff...

<img src="http://content.pyzam.com/funnypics/0/pyzamOmgWtf.jpg">

glostah

Disconnect the control arm completely. Test fit the ball joint at the spindle and if it seems to fit correctly, connect the control arm at the chassis. Don't tighten anything until everything is back in place, including the shock. Make sure the forks of the shock are over the control arm before you bolt it to the chassis. I had to wrangle with the shock a bit to get it in place after the control arm was bolted at both ends - but I recall using a 1 3/4" wrench to grab the top part of the forks and muscle it into postition.

Once everything is loosely in place, tighten the ball joint first, the chassis mount second and the shock mount last, then torque to spec.

If the ball joint doesn't fit, you obiviously have the wrong part.

JAA 4.2

probably not. I'll call you later today. thanks.

02 Silver Arrow

when I did mine it was a matter of floor jack, wiggling and a whack with a hammer