94' - 95' Knuckle ball joint problem...

[Mike Kopstain]

We recently installed a set of 95' front knuckles onto a car with 89' control arms. While driving this morning, the knuckle popped off of the control arm and insanity insued. Upon further investigation, it appears that the pinch bolt on the 94' - 95' knuckle does not lock into the ball joint stud as it does with the 89' - 93' knuckles. Having done this upgrade many times, I'm dumbfounded as to what the problem is and can't remember offhand if the previous jobs had the bolt that locked into this stud. Can anyone confirm or deny that the ball joint pinch bolt does not lock into the ball joint stud when using 94' - 95' knuckles?

 

[jelloslug]

I just went out and looked at my 94-95 knuckels that I have not installed yet. They are machined to "lock" the ball joint stud just like the 89-93 knuckels.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You probably got a bad knuckle. I've seen this happen a couple of times on stock '94/'95's where the pinch joint was opened up too wide either by accident, or by the stud wearing out the joint due to movement allowed by a insufficiently tightened pinch bolt. Once it's become deformed, all the tightening in the world wont get the joint to secure the stud properly, time for a different knuckle.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

You probably got a bad knuckle. I've seen this happen a couple of times on stock '94/'95's where the pinch joint was opened up too wide either by accident, or by the stud wearing out the joint due to movement allowed by a insufficiently tightened pinch bolt. Once it's become deformed, all the tightening in the world wont get the joint to secure the stud properly, time for a different knuckle.

I was of similar opinion Chris but when looking at it, it's obvious that this knuckle was designed to ONLY pinch the stud as the pinch bolt doesn't come close to the hole for the ball joint stud. Now I'm wondering what knuckle we actually got on this car... It fits in every other respect.

 

[jelloslug]

It could be a manufacturing defect.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

It could be a manufacturing defect.

It looks like you're grasping at the same straws I am! It certainly looks like this specific knuckle was designed this way. I will snap some pictures this evening.

 

[pjtoledo]

I put the 94/95 upgrade on my 87 wagon several years ago. No problems.

Perry

 

[Cobraii976]

could be the wrong pinch bolt installed or the other popular one I've seen lately. The knuckle was not down all the way and the pinch was forced in pushing the LCA down and then sliding off.

 

[rangerj]

As stated above the hole for the ball joint stud has become worn or the opening has been pried open and the steering knuckle is distorted. The only fix for either of these situations is to replace the knuckle.

The ball joint stud fits snuggly in the hole. When the pinch bolt is properly torqued the stud is not going to come out of the knuckle. The pinch bolt nut is a lock type nut and should always be replaced, and NEVER reused. The pinch bolt should also be replaced, but if it is in good condition can be reused in a "pinch" (pun intended). rangerj

 

[Doug Waschenko]

As far as I can see the bolt is supposed to retain the ball joint to the knuckle.
The slot machined into the ball joint stud would confirm this. The bolt is also a safety device to prevent the stud from popping out.
If the bolt doesn't engauge the stud, replace the knuckle.
I personally have had issues with the pinch bolt not being able to tighten the knuckle properly to "crush" the stud.
The base of the knuckle should be checked for fatigue and cracks. It would seem that the knuckle shouldn't crack and therefore not be able to tighen sufficiently but apparently it is common.
Thanks FoMoCo for another great design. Do you people really know how to design a car or what?

 

[Howdy_Doody]

Nobody has mentioned the possiblity that the wrong pinch bolt was installed somewhere along the way. I think the stock one is a 12mm dia., if a 10mm one is used, it could cause the problem you are having.

 

[pjtoledo]

What fixed it?

Perry