Im not sure what to do here. Do I need to replace the ball joint? Thanks in advance.



Deeper than oem, nut sits far lower on stud

OEM, a lot more shallow, nut sits just under cotter pin

 

Are you sure it's the correct part for your vehicle? Does it have the correct angle cone washer on the ball joint?

 

The part number is the same and everything else is the same as far as dimensions and fit. I am using the OEM angle cone but it appears to be too tall due to the difference shown

 

I'd fit just the cone washer in by hand to verify it fully seats. In that first picture you posted the ball joint is clearly not seated fully onto that red colored control arm.

Where did you get this replacement component from?

What was wrong with the existing transverse link? If the inboard bushing was shot you should just replace the bushings.

 

I had the bottom of the ball joint jacked up trying to get it to seat, I stopped when the ball joint started to ooze old grease haha, and I got the replacement at autozone as they were the only ones with any in stock. The bushings were so destroyed they fell out of the old control arm and it looked like the sockets were destroyed