I recently replaced the lower ball joint/control arm assembly on my 87 integra, and ever since, my alignment has been off by a little bit.*

The only thing that is diffenent now than before is that the ball joint isnt stuck into the knuckle. When i replaced it, i had to remove the nut, then pound the ball joint out of the knuckle. Now if i loosen the ball joint, the ball joint falls out no problem. So do i need to press this style in? If i do, and i torque the nut to te recomended 39 ft/lbs, the castle nut will be about 1/2 inch below
The cotter pin. What i am realizing is that the new ball joint isnt identicle to the factory one.*

I have since replaced the other one (it was goin out anyway) and i had the same problem. Should i leave them how it is (the knuckle resting on the castle nut, or should i get the ball joint pressed in, tighten the nut, and have a gap between the nut and cotter pin? *

If you have done ball joints in a 1st gen please help!

 

You have to PRESS, I'm gonna ExPress PRESS again, The ball joints into the control arms.

 

it's a Gen 1 not a Gen2 or 3
the lower ball joint on the Gen 1 (86~89) integra is solid to the radious arm.
if you replace the ball join you replace the arm aswell.

where as the Gen2 and Gen 3 integra's have a LCA with a Pressed in Ball joint.

look at the nut that came off the car and the one that you got with the ball joint
if the old one is thicker reuse it. Some cars reuse the nuts and some use new ones that come with the parts.

as for your alignment on the gen1 you have to get the car's alignment done when ever you install new Ball joint, inner or outer tie rod ends and front shocks.

if the car is aligned with old parts on the car the new ones will always be different then the old ones.
hell even brand new parts are not 100% the same.