Ball Joint Assembly Note

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Mazda CX-9. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

When assembling the ball joint, use a clean rag to protect the links, and squeeze using a pair of protective tape-wrapped pliers.

Fig 1: Squeezing Ball Joint Using Protective Tape-Wrapped Pliers
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.