This is a Moog balljoint on a 2001 Silverado 2wd. The dot is on the left side. Is this installed wrong? Is it a safety hazard? Thanks.

 

Yes. Upper balljoints on these trucks have notched sockets. If you let it fly the suspension will bind and eventually break.

 

Yes it is a safety hazard. Like livefast said eventually it will break and you'll have a wheel folded over stuck under your truck.

 

Thanks. Let's hope this mechanic will own up to his mistake. He said on the phone that they can be installed in any direction. I don't know how he missed the huge WARNING tag that was attached to the balljoint in the original packaging. He got lucky on the other side I guess because it's aligned.

 

BTW I don't like to let anyone else work on my family's vehicles, but those &$&@@ lower joints would just not break loose for me. So I just said F it and let him do all 4.

 

I've heated the a-arm with torch before to get them out

 

If your not using an impact gun on the ball joint c clamp your probably going to have to periodically whack the clamp with a bfh. Most times I will just pound the lowers out and only use the tool to install the new ones.

 

Well, the guy apologized and fixed it for free - as he should have. Thanks for the replies!

 

Good to hear