Ball joint question: Is this normal?

[Flying Sailor]

I noticed a clunk while turning at slow speeds, so I looked at the ball joints and found a void between the steering knuckle and axel yoke on the drivers side upper bj. The other side is not that way.
Does anyone have an idea what is going on with that ball joint?
Thanks

 

[Daryl]

That space is normal. It’s a tapered stud on the ball joint. That picture of your upper ball joint appears to have an offset to it to change the alignment so it’s been replaced and is not a standard spicer joint.

 

[Flying Sailor]

Thanks. Any thoughts on why there is a clunk noise when turning at slow speeds?

 

[Chris]

That noise could be a lot of things. The best way to figure it out would be to do a dry steering test and see if you notice anything that is visibly loose.

 

[Daryl]

If nothing shows up after the dry steering test Chris mentioned jack one side up at a time very slowly and look for movement near the outers of the axle. Easier if you have two people.

 

[tworley]

Have you looked for a loose control arm?

 

[Flying Sailor]

Control arm seems to be tight

 

[Chris]

Control arm seems to be tight

Check the torque on the bolts though, it's quite a bit. I want to say 85 ft/lbs on the lowers and 65 ft/lbs on the uppers.