97 Rear Ball joint issue

[BonJimmy]

I have a 97 SE that I am changing the rear ball joints on, I think i may have widened the hole a little and my new Moog problem solver ball joints are falling out of the control arm if i lift up on the suspension, they wont just fall out on their own, I went to replace the strut and when pulling up on the knuckle they dropped out of the control arm..... Does anybody know how if this is a problem since the weight of the car on them will hold them in place, or if i should go to a junk yard to find a new control arm..

[MKMike]

Not to insult you, as I have no way of knowing what you do or don't know, so--do you know that they need to be pressed in ?
Some details and tool pic here
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... hilit=rear ball#p213213
If you tried pressing the ball joint in but it remains loose, replace the control arm.

[BonJimmy]

No worries, yes, i did press them in as tightly as i could with the OEM ball joint press i rented from auto zone... it just does not fit in snug like it should. If fits in with some friction and will stay in place by itself, its strange

[bobc997615]

Shouldn't the pressure from the coil spring keep the ball joint "loaded" against the LCA?
Only if you place a jack under the LCA and lift the car that the ball joint "may" break loose from a poor press fit.

[BonJimmy]

That's correct, is this something I should be concerned with?