upper ball joint help

[truckcap22]

alright lowers are in and uppers are in i'm trying to fit the upper into the knuckle but the bolt doesn't want to go through whats a common tip to help this go more smoothly?

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Do you mean that you cannot lower the upper arm enough to get it through the knuckle? If thats so jack up on the lower control arm far enough to get it through and tigthen it all up.

 

[Earl43P]

I used the torsion bar adjustment bolt (loosen) to bring the lower up.

Jacking wanted to lift that whole side of the truck.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I have never had to do them on the ground though, I run my own and am the main tech at my shop...

 

[Crunchy]

I hope you have the correct upper arm. If I am correct, different arms have different diameter pins. You mention knuckle. So I assume your 4x4. If your 4x2, and you mean spindle instead, they make 2 different upper ball joint studs depending on your suspension (torsions or coil).

If it does fit, but just won't go in the hole, take the sledge to it? Maybe lube the hole up, makes it easier to slide your pin in.

Might have to undo a sway bar link to get the lower arm up further if thats your problem.

Other than that, I can't see how you can't get it in. After all, you got the old one out, and thats usually the hard part.

 

[truckcap22]

it goes in the hole no problems but the 15mm bolt just doesn't wanna slide through to tighten it down

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Did you try tapping the bolt through with a hammer? They usually rust up a bit in there.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Ohhh, ok, you aren't getting the groove in the bal;l joint stud in the right spot to push the bolt through. Hehe as my grandma would say you ain't holding yer mouth right.

 

[truckcap22]

k looks like i have 2 passenger side upper ball joints with contol arms?...they aren't interchangable are they? its an 02 torsion bar btw

 

[Crunchy]

Don't think so. Go back to the parts store & compare.