if i unbolt my upper balljoint temporarily (to replace a grease fitting i can't reach through the bj spacers), am i correct in thinking that since everything will go back the way it was my alignment won't go all out of whack?

thanks

 

umm... something tells me it would mess up the alignment... but im not much of an alignment tech... i think if you support the wheel it wont....

 

If you are talking about unbolting it from the control arm, Yes it will have an effect, But most likely not enough to worry about.

The bolt holes have some play so it could be 1/16" or more from where it was.

scribe marks on the ball joint and arm so that you can put it back where it was.

If you are splitting the joint loose from the knuckle it probably won't make a difference at all.

 

I'm not removing the joint from the knuckle, just unbolting it from the balljoint spacer (and therefore the control arm). I just have to take out the spacer for ten minutes to replace a broken grease fitting I can't get to through the hole in the spacer.

I'll just go for it and if the truck handles funny I'll just get an alignment.

 

If you knock the alignment out most likely what you will notice is the steering wheel off-center.

 

Previous post is correct by saying it will change the alignment at best very slightly , if you have any concerns with steering or tire wear then by all means get it checked/re-aligned .

 

The last shop that did the alignment did a piss poor job anyways, the thing still pulls right and has obvious positive camber. I'll get an alignment

 

The alignment would still be close enough that you could drive it with no problems to the shop, but I would definitely get a new alignment done to it. Tires are expensive...