Ball joint axial travel specification

[rftroy]

I'm inspecting my 69 Barracuda front suspension to see what's serviceable and what needs to be replaced.
Set up a dial indicator on my lower ball joint stud and measured 0.040" axial play.  My memory told me that was well below the maximum wear spec, but I double checked the manual. Since my front suspension is off a 75 or 76 Dart disc brake car, I looked in the 76 manual.
The 76 manual gives a maximum stud axial play of 0.020".
I've checked all my manuals from 68 through 73, and all of them give a maximum axial play of 0.070".
I looked up the part numbers, and, as I suspected, the part number for the lower control arms for all E bodies 70 through 74 and all the darts 74 through 76, are the same part number.

Did Chrysler learn something between 1968 and 1976 that they made such a drastic wear spec change in the same part?

If you're working on your Cuda or Challenger using a 70 through 74 manual, and didn't know about the spec in the 76 manual, you'd tell yourself that your ball joint's just fine because it's under the 0.070" spec., which means it's a bit over halfway through it service life.

Any knowledge or experience here?
I'm thinking of putting them back in and grease'in em up
Robert

[Brads70]

I'd be replacing them, especially seeing how you already have it appart.