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Do I replace the upper ball joints

Beekeeper

It’s a disease without a cure!
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So I’m rebuilding the suspension on my super bee and the upper ball joints are nice and tight

not sure if they have been replaced before but they feel tight. Should I replace them while I’m at it or just buy new boots and roll with em? And do I reuse the reinforcement collars that were on the upper a arm bushings?
 
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I am usually with the saying if it ain't broke don't fix it, but it is your car, do what makes you feel good.
 
If the originals feel right, I'd use them rather than take a gamble on the quality of the replacements.
 
If you asked that question 25 years ago when the quality of replacement parts was top notch, I would say change everything. But with the shoddy replacement parts available to us today, like @Jerry Hall said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
 
I remember in Sex Ed in school....They spoke of rinsing and reusing rubbers.
This was 1980 before the whole AIDS epidemic took off.
(Off topic and random but so what, it is a habit of mine)
 
If the originals feel right, I'd use them rather than take a gamble on the quality of the replacements.

I remember in Sex Ed in school....They spoke of rinsing and reusing rubbers.
This was 1980 before the whole AIDS epidemic took off.
(Off topic and random but so what, it is a habit of mine)

:monkeyleft:
 
I remember in Sex Ed in school....They spoke of rinsing and reusing rubbers.
This was 1980 before the whole AIDS epidemic took off.
(Off topic and random but so what, it is a habit of mine)

No need to rinse them. Just turn them inside out and reuse them.
 
No need to rinse them. Just turn them inside out and reuse them.
39279424-extreme-vomit-man.jpg
 
well we see were Kern Dog took this thread once he read upper balls :rofl:
 
Back to topic.

@Beekeeper how are you testing or checking these ball joints? I’m not sure how you can properly check a ball joint unless you’re full assembled. When the car is back together I would hate for the alignment shop to say they can’t line the car up because the ball joints are shot. Joints may not show wear disassembled unless they’re toast. How many miles are on the car?

Try to reuse those reinforcement collars if possible but it won’t be a show stopper if you can save them.
 
More then likely there not org anymore! I would replace with a quality set don't be cheap on parts ! You can't really screw up ball joints there either wore out or not but without the assy together it's almost impossible to tell how they are currently! I myself will replace everything these questionable! I hate doing a job twice !
 
Back to topic.

@Beekeeper how are you testing or checking these ball joints? I’m not sure how you can properly check a ball joint unless you’re full assembled. When the car is back together I would hate for the alignment shop to say they can’t line the car up because the ball joints are shot. Joints may not show wear disassembled unless they’re toast. How many miles are on the car?

Try to reuse those reinforcement collars if possible but it won’t be a show stopper if you can save them.

I removed the reinforcement collars already was a piece of cake.
 
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IIRC the uppers were not a high wear item like the lowers. I agree with 69L, needs to assembled to check. Replacement part quality is sure a concern. NAPA stuff is no where near the quality of 10 or 15 years ago either.
 
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