tack welding upper ball joints, how safe

[Dead Bunny]

I got a set of used upper control arms. I had a shop take out the old ball joints and screw in the new ones. when they did it, they stripped out the screw holes. They told me that I can tack weld the new ball joint in and it will be fine. How much truth is in this statement. I am broke as hell and can't afford brand new moog parts.

[skilletky]

My dumb ass pressed the top ones out and back in and one came out on me, i welded them in last week and have not had a problem yet.

[PToombs]

I have one that's been welded for years. I also pressed them out and back in, not realizing they were threaded. I jacked the truck up a few months later, and the joint fell out of the A arm. I wasn't real happy. I just put it back, and tack welded it in. IIRC, when the truck is on the ground the weight holds it in. It's been awhile since I looked at it, so I could be wrong.

[Dead Bunny]

thanks alot. BTW Pete, that inner cooler is still working great!

[PToombs]

Good deal! You should have seen the load I hauled out to there this year. No room for the cooler on that trip!

[hydroshok]

I don't think the weight of the truck would hold it in as the spring is between the control arms on our trucks. I have tack welded my fair share of ball joins in and never had any problems. As long as you get it in all the way and straight; it should last a long time. Make sure to grease it a ton after it cools because you just super-heated the grease when you welded it. I guess if you have the time weld it with the spindle off, flush all the old grease out pump new grease in and then put the spindle on.

[ellis93]

After a year has passed I surely hope he's greased his ball joints

[hydroshok]

Ya me too... I realized that after I posted, but sometimes old threads getting new posts helps someone who is looking for info on that topic....

[PToombs]

Actually, there was another recent thread on this subject.

[hydroshok]

See if I had posted earlier; that thread might not have started. I'm used to other forums where you can search for stuff instead of looking around.

[PToombs]

Well, you can try to search here, but it's usually a frustrating process. Some of the guys have it down cold, and will post a link to what you are looking for. Unless you are in a big hurry then they don't get on for days.

[Diesel Dawg]

Ive had mine welded in about 2 yrs and no problem.

[PToombs]

It's been 3 times that for mine.

[hydroshok]

I told my roommate I welded it in place and he said "Then you can''t adjust your alignment. That was stupid!" I responded "Well that sucks. Guess I'll have to get a new truck!" He has worked at Advance auto parts the last 10 years. He also told me there is a gear lock in my manual transmission that will go bad and cause the truck to roll backwards on a hill. I'm really screwed here or he basically wasted 10 years learning about vehicles...

[PToombs]

You should have grabbed him by the ear, dragged him out there, and stuffed his nose behind the tire and said, "ya think so?".