Thread: Moog ball joint - loose?!

Hey guise,

Welp, I'm replacing ball joints on both sides in the NX. I ordered the correct moog part # K9449 for my egg.

I got the old ball joints out - the new Moog units fit right in, but they are loose - I can spin them by hand. I am noticing the old ball joint, along with the control arms themselves have grooves / threads where the ball joint is supposed to be pressed in. The moog unit is smooth, and it's loose. I hope this makes sense - I can provide pics if anyone needs them. What to do? I have ES bushings in my LCAs, I thought it would be easier to just buy a ball joint (especially a quality one) and press it in. Help!

Matt, you could tack weld the joint in but that would making changing it out in the future some kind of fun.

EDIT** Does the Moog units not have a snap-ring/c-clip to hold them in as well?

I used moog units on my B14 and the did have the snap ring but they are a press fit. I measured the od and they were a little bigger than the OE ones. My guess is that your control arms already have ad ball joints pressed in and now the receiving hole is too big for the even bigger replacement ones to press in. Sorry to say this but it looks like you need new control arms.

Soory to rain on your parade but moogs are complete junk!
Get your money back and get oem ones .

That's news to me and I'd imagine a lot of other people. What makes you say that?


Sometimes even if you order the right part # you get a ball joint that's too small. I'd take them back and order another set... sorry to hear.

Ive never had luck with them . They wear out fast and dont like lowered cars that much. Ive even greased my every oil change. I guess some have had good luck but i didnt

What about if I bought another brand of ball joints, say Raybestos? Any chance those will work? The previous LCA are, IIRC, Beck/Arnley from Advance Auto Parts which included the balljoint...probably why the moog units don't fit....??

Also, I went out and bought a snap ring tool and applied the ring - Even with that the ball joint still moves up and down and I can spin it freely...

That's probably why. They are probably designed around a specific size they use.

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Just get new control arms with the joints already pressed in. I think I spent $60 a side @ Rockauto. Press the old bushings out and reuse them?