Rear upper control arm wont go in all the way

[Dr. Pluh]

Hey, im having a problem getting the new rear upper control arm ball joint all the way into the socket at the top of the differential. (2006 KJ) Theres just maybe 2mm left but i cant pass the bolt through. Ive tried putting a chisel into the gap, jumping in the trunk, angeling the differential with a jack, using a ratchet strap while driving over a speed bump, i sprayed it with oil... Nothing works. Does anyone have any tips on this? Any similar experiences? Thanks a lot

 

[Gyro]

I think I used a chisel in the gap ,a clamp on the arm and axle shaft and rotate the pumpkin for or aft and it dropped right in.

Gyro

 

[duderz7]

Remove bracket from axle, insert ball joint, reattach bracket to axle.

 

[Dr. Pluh]

I ended up hammering the bolt in, it went in relatively easily and the thread was only lightly damaged so i could screw the nut on normally, maybe the new ball joint just wasnt so precisely designed either way it should hold because the bolt is in the groove

Btw for anyone reading in the future i did the replacement without lifting the car and without taking off the tires, its not necessary

 

[KJowner]

I vaguely remember using a couple of jacks to adjust the diff angle and lift it slightly so it slid in.

 

[24turbo]

I ended up hammering the bolt in, it went in relatively easily and the thread was only lightly damaged so i could screw the nut on normally, maybe the new ball joint just wasnt so precisely designed either way it should hold because the bolt is in the groove

Btw for anyone reading in the future i did the replacement without lifting the car and without taking off the tires, its not necessary

If I understand what you are saying correctly, that is NOT the case. When you disconnect the upper ball joint at the differential you no longer have any support to keep the differential from rotating (probably) upward. The shocks and driveshaft will somewhat limit this movement but it could still happen if you the lose balance of the lower control arm suspension assembly.

May not move far but if your hand is in the area of the ball joint it could definitely pinch or crush a finger or hand.

Obviously you got lucky and nothing bad happened, but this statement should be deleted to protect others who dont know better.

 

[seafish]

I vaguely remember using a couple of jacks to adjust the diff angle and lift it slightly so it slid in.

I did the same, a jack under the rear end and a slight rotation and it slipped right in.

Kind of just like … oops wife just walked in

 

[Puddle Jumper 2.0]

KJowner is spot on!! Use a jack to slightly alter the angle that the rear differential has in relationship to the transmission. That affects how straight that bolt is as it enters the top of the bracket that attaches it to the dif/housing. Chisel in the gap helps too but that hole needs to be aligned pretty close to get the ball joint shaft to seat all the way in.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

If I understand what you are saying correctly, that is NOT the case. When you disconnect the upper ball joint at the differential you no longer have any support to keep the differential from rotating (probably) upward. The shocks and driveshaft will somewhat limit this movement but it could still happen if you the lose balance of the lower control arm suspension assembly.

May not move far but if your hand is in the area of the ball joint it could definitely pinch or crush a finger or hand.

Obviously you got lucky and nothing bad happened, but this statement should be deleted to protect others who dont know better.

This is a little big brother, but has some merit. First time I did this job I ended up taking the entire rear suspension apart and the diff rotated back into the gas tank and pulled the driveshaft out. After a few minutes of freaking out and some choice words, I got it all back together.

Learned my lesson: don't take the upper rear control arm off without the rest of the suspension still in place.

 

[blackhawk]

Hey, im having a problem getting the new rear upper control arm ball joint all the way into the socket at the top of the differential. (2006 KJ) Theres just maybe 2mm left but i cant pass the bolt through. Ive tried putting a chisel into the gap, jumping in the trunk, angeling the differential with a jack, using a ratchet strap while driving over a speed bump, i sprayed it with oil... Nothing works. Does anyone have any tips on this? Any similar experiences? Thanks a lot

Is your kj lifted?