New Lower Ball Joints Still have Play

[CaptStoots]

Recently failed inspection for ball joints and replaced the upper control arms and lower ball joints. Went back to get it re inspected and shop says the lower ball joints still have play. Has anyone ever experienced this? Could it be a bad set? Not enough grease? 

[rav3]

I'd try another inspection place.

[Silverado4x4]

3 hours ago, CaptStoots said:

Recently failed inspection for ball joints and replaced the upper control arms and lower ball joints. Went back to get it re inspected and shop says the lower ball joints still have play. Has anyone ever experienced this? Could it be a bad set? Not enough grease? 

Sound to me you bought a cheap set of Chinese balljoints, I would get a set of quality joints like from Moog etc even if you take it to another inspection station and they pass it I would never trust a set of joints that already have play in them they should be tight and no play. Grease is not going to remove the play..

Edited November 18, 2023 by Silverado4x4

[kickass audio]

When you put the lower ball joints in did you press them in nice and tight? I had moog ball joints on my old truck that were replacing the factory ones and even though I ground out the little lip that the factory uses to press them on the control arm, I pressed the old out and the new one barely had to be pressed in and had a little bit of wobbling. I ended up getting new control arms with the ball joints already installed.

[CaptStoots]

They were the Duralast Gold from AutoZone. They didn’t have any Moogs. Yes they were pressed in tight with a press

[Rusty Shackleford]

How are they checking it? If flexing the wheel/tire while in the air, and finding movement, it could be the wheel bearing assembly. If so, it's not long for this world anyway.