Lower Ball Joint Decision

[moonshine_mike]

Went through my stash of parts to try to free up space. Ran across some restored lower ball joints. I added some pics. They appear and move very smoothly. I see casting numbers on them (3402990/1),but don't really know what models or years they would be applicable for. The castings do not match any of the lower ball joints present on my four E bodies(1970/73), which I suspect must be aftermarket MOOG. I do favor originality, but debate myself frequently on the topic. 

Question:
1) Does any member know what mopar model(s) and year(s) these may be applicable for?

2) If applicable for a Cuda, should I swap out now with a existing aftermarket set already on a Cuda, or just offer them up to others? I doubt any of my existing ball joints will fail in my lifetime, so waiting for that event to swap might not make sense.

[Cuda Cody]

Might want to look those up in the parts book.  They look like originals to me. 

[Cuda Cody]

And if you don't need them, I bet someone would be super excited to buy them.  Not easy to find those things restored and ready to go.

Fun fact about ball joints and the zerk fittings.  The manufacture paid the dealers to "prep" the cars before they were sold and delivered to the customer.  Part of that prep process they paid for was to include greasing the zerk fittings on the chassis. But what the manufacture found was most dealers would not do it but instead just claim they did and collect the "prep" fee.  So the factory had a brilliant idea of breaking the zerks off during production so the dealers would have to replace them as part of the "prep" process.  Almost no dealers replaced them so still to this day if you find low mileage originals you will see the zerk fitting broke off on the suspension ball joints.

[moonshine_mike]

I have several part number books showing the original part numbers for mopar lower ball joints per model and year, but I don't have cross reference to cast numbers, so I am lost here.
Can't tell if they should be on an E body and if so what year.
I need help from members with this data.

[Katfish]

If they are broken off, how are they replaced?

[Cuda Cody]

The ball end of the zerk breaks off, but the nut and threads remain.

It was rumored that it was also a way to transfer any suspension warranty claims back to the dealer if those zerks were not replaced during "prep".  The manufacture paid the prep fee to the dealer so if they didn't replace the zerks and lube the chassis as they had agreed to do during the 'prep' and taken payment for doing, the manufacture warranty would not cover any suspension issues and those costs would be back on the dealer to fix.

Once you start looking for original zerks broken off on originals you will find them everywhere.  I can't ever recall seeing an original suspension with them not broken off!  It's truly crazy.

If they are broken off, how are they replaced?

[Cuda Cody]

I asked "Grok" and he said...

The Mopar ball joint with casting number 3402990 is the passenger-side (right-hand) lower ball joint. It fits the following vehicles:1962–1974 B-body models, such as the Dodge Charger, Coronet, and Super Bee; Plymouth Belvedere, GTX, Road Runner, and Satellite.

1970–1974 E-body models, such as the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda/Cuda.

[moonshine_mike]

Cody reveals a great fun fact.
And as luck would have it, I still have the old Zerks that were removed from the joints, and I see that the Zerk on this ball joint was broken. But only the neck was broken and it was still removed with a wrench and replaced. Below is the picture of the broken, rusty Zerk after its removal. I don't know if the break was deliberately done by factory or accidentally during it's life with a road rash event. However, there is no road rash or damage to the ball joint itself, so maybe the factory is the cause.

[Katfish]

Thx for the info, always learning something here.