Is it ok if a new lower ball joint, out of the box, doesn't rotate freely like the one just removed?

Tiny
CRASHWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 96,000 MILES
Rented ball joint press and pressed old balljoint from control arm. Want to insert new one but joystick-like rotation is seized in an angled position. Is this normal? Or is there a break-in proceedure?
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 4:43 AM

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Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
You often can't move the stud by hand. It can take a lot of effort to move it. You won't be able to turn it either without a pliers, but that's not something you want to try to do. If it has a tapered stud, you don't want to scratch it. That taper is needed to hold it securely in the spindle.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 4:56 AM
Tiny
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So, if I can't move it by hand does it free up on it's own once it's installed to the steering knuckle?
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 5:13 AM
Tiny
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It will turn easier when it wears a little. After you press it in, if you have to tap on the stud with a hammer to line it up with the hole in the spindle, that's perfectly normal.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 5:52 AM
Tiny
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Got it. Pressed in & some how shifted to position to line up w/steering knuckle. I now know a seprator isn't the same as a press & that the press rental from local auto store doesn't carry size standard to Nissan Altima.
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+1
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
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Slight high pitch sqeak noise from passenger side wheel on test drive. Occurs while driving & turning but not braking. Greased driveaxle splines w/moly assembly lube as well as oil seal contact surfaces, but not mounting bracket(passenger side).
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
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Those splines hold the wheel bearing assembly together along with the axle nut that must be set to the specified torque, which is real high.

A somewhat common cause of a squeal, only when moving, on older Chryslers is the axle seal in the transmission. I suppose the same thing could happen to other car brands. If you spray behind the inner cv joint with Spray White Lube, the noise might go away for a day or two. That's a Chrysler product that I'm familiar with but other spray lubricants will likely work too. Spray White Lube is a lithium-based grease that is very runny at first. The juice runs into places and takes the grease with it, then the liquid evaporates and leaves the grease behind. One clue to help find the noise is it will still occur when the front end is jacked up off the ground and it's running in gear with no weight on the wheel bearing or suspension.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 9:26 PM

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