Mk5 cast aluminum frnt lower control arms

[CW_MI]

Just a question on the ball joints on these control arms. Are they a press fit, or do they require a snap ring ? When I unboxed them, there was no snap ring, but there was a set of snap rings in my kit. I also noticed in one of the pictures on the online manual showed snap rings installed. I went ahead and installed them but the fit of the installed snap ring seems a bit sketchy.

[edwardb]

For the record, according to Factory Five videos and website, they're forged not cast. Quite a different process and considerably stronger. No snap rings on the forged arms with the Mk5 kit I received about 6 months ago and I didn't receive any separate snap rings. I suspect they're pressed in and don't require anything else. A good question for Factory Five support just to be certain.

[rich grsc]

What is a "wring", ??

[CW_MI]

What is a "wring", ??

Ha...yep, a typo. It's Monday, and I had only one "covfefe" in me at the time. It's great to see the wealth of knowledge on this site for building these cars, in addition to grammar lessons.

[Jeff Kleiner]

They are pressed in and do not require a snap ring. The physics of the assembly makes it impossible for the ball joint to come loose---the spring is exerting downward force on the control arm and the weight of the car sitting on it's wheel exerts upward force on the shoulder of the ball joint.

Jeff

[2nd2none]

I also received 2 snap rings (about 2" diameter) with my LCA hardware and have no idea what they were supposed to be for. Went through the manual multiple times and didn't see any mention of them.

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[bil1024]

Are the snap rings for the Koni shocks ?

[2nd2none]

Are the snap rings for the Koni shocks ?

They’re pretty close in size but shocks came with their own snap rings and they’re a little different in how the portion is where you actually insert pliers. On these they protrude outward of the ring and on shocks they go inward.

Just went back and looked at the manual and I'm now seeing the picture I think OP was talking about. Never any mention about installing them and they don't come with snap rings on the boots.

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[michael everson]

The snap rings go in the trash.
Mike