BALL JOINT HELP PLEASE!

[Sandpiper CTD]

Hi All -

I took my 1995 2WD 2500 (243K miles) to get an alignment after installing new shocks and tires. The shop told me that they couldn't do an alignment because my lower ball joints weren't fully seated....they stick up above the control arm about 1/4" with the splines and snap ring exposed. Is this normal??? I found some pics online that appeared to look the same but was a little hard to tell. I have attached a picture. Please advise. Thanks

 

Some people have said that I need new lower control arms......not sure how to know if this is true. I can't tell if the OEM ball joints were tack welded like some were....the ball joints in the pic above appear to be replacements. I looked for new lower control arms from NAPA and MOOG...both manufactures have replacement lower control arms that come with ball joints already pressed in. The MOOG lower control arm comes with a crap ball joint.....does not come with the grease fitting problem solver balljoint (I called MOOG and they said its not a problem solver BJ....the guy said some overseas made junk basically). I'm not sure what quality ball joint the NAPA control arm comes with. My concern is that I don't want to buy new control arms that come with crappy balljoints that will need to soon be replaced. Does anyone know if there is a lower control arm available with out an already pressed in BJ so I can put good ones in? Thanks

[Mopar1973Man]

Cost more but should be better parts.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Control-Arm-Lower-Front-Susp/_/R-NCP2605576_0229547843

[Me78569]

Avoid Moog like the plague,

 

I use raybestos premium now days.