Difference between upper and lower ball joints

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Dailydriver
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Difference between upper and lower ball joints

Post by Dailydriver » Mon Oct 16, 2017 12:32 pm

How can you tell by looking at new ball joints if it's upper or lower?

I got few of them on eBay new NOS, but they don't have grease points, is that still quality part ?

Tnx very much
1985 Humvee daily driver, over 200.000 miles,
2001 H1 motor and 4l80e transmission,
Ez TCU stand alone transmission controller
12 volt electrical system,


Mark Rozak
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Re: Difference between upper and lower ball joints

Post by Mark Rozak » Mon Oct 16, 2017 3:50 pm

This topic should be moved to Knowledge Base.

There are several versions or revisions of the ball joints. Easiest method is by size of the mounting bolts. Upper have removable boots. Lower boots are clamped and not removable.

Original Upper mounting bolts were 5/16-18 x 1.25. Revised control arm has a welded reinforcement ring and used larger 3/8-24 x 1.375 mounting bolts.

Original lower mounting bolts were 3/8-16 x 1.375. Revised control arm no longer supports scissors pin jack and has 7/16-14 x 1.5 larger mounting bolts.

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86humv
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Re: Difference between upper and lower ball joints

Post by 86humv » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:58 pm

Old style lowers don't have grease zerk.
86 Hmmwv
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M101A2 trailer
M1102 trailer


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