ScubaSteve Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Installing new ball joints. When I tighten them up the steering gets stiff. I tightened the lower joint to 40ft lbs and the tighten the upper to 80 ft lbs, then finish the bottom off at 100ft lbs. this is the procedure I have found is that correct? The reason I’m at 80 on the to is because that’s as high as I can get with my 3/8 wrench. They turn nice until the final torque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 I don't mean to ask a stupid question, but they are both pressed in as far as they can go? What is in there for alignment bushings? My '84 has the original 0 degree concentric bushings. I did all 4 front ball joints on my truck last fall, and I don't remember anything binding up after the final torque. This is a real hard one to tell without seeing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaSteve Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 I don't mean to ask a stupid question, but they are both pressed in as far as they can go? What is in there for alignment bushings? My '84 has the original 0 degree concentric bushings. I did all 4 front ball joints on my truck last fall, and I don't remember anything binding up after the final torque. This is a real hard one to tell without seeing... okay here’s the deal. From what I can find the procedure is to tighten the lower to 40 then the upper to around 100 then the bottom to around 100. The problem I had was that the lower joints I purchased use a lock nut and the force to overcome the lock nut is greater than 40 ft lbs so it was not seating. I loosened everything back up and tightened the lower until it seated then did the upper to 80 and the lower to 100. This allows the camber bushing to move up or down as needed before you tighten the upper joint and lock it in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 okay here’s the deal. From what I can find the procedure is to tighten the lower to 40 then the upper to around 100 then the bottom to around 100. The problem I had was that the lower joints I purchased use a lock nut and the force to overcome the lock nut is greater than 40 ft lbs so it was not seating. I loosened everything back up and tightened the lower until it seated then did the upper to 80 and the lower to 100. This allows the camber bushing to move up or down as needed before you tighten the upper joint and lock it in place. :nabble_smiley_good: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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