Ball Joint Weld?
 

Hello All,

Just bought a 91 D250. It have been lowered so I have it in the shop to put the stock springs back in it (tires are rubbing) to bring it back to stock height. The ball joints were worn so I had them replace those too. Apparently the last guy jacke up the control arms and then welded in the ball joints. Don't have time to wait two days for new ones so my question is this: will new ball joints last if I have them welded in again? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Cheers,

B

I know you know the answer to your question!
I know this might be your only mode of transportation but a job aint worth doing if it aint done right. His weld may have held but the new weld may not. Do you want to be doing 70mph down the highway and possibly the weld breaks?

A few inches of good short-arc weld has to be as strong or stronger than the Mickey Mouse fine threads that the stock ball joint uses to hold. I had a new ball joint let go on a 1 ton Dodge van. While sloppy and noisy, it didn't really cause much control problem. I short arc welded it back in place and it stayed there for the life of the van.

Last time I needed them they were still available new from Chrysler. The upper control arm that is.