Upper Ball Joints
 

Working on rebuilding a 72 K10 that I got a little over a year ago and have come to a problem. When working on the upper ball joints there is a threaded sleeve that is down in the knuckle that is smooth with the surface but has 4 divits in it like the nuts that hold the hub on. The new ball joint that I got gives the part number of C-4169 for the tool to remove and replace them, but nobody knows what kind of part number it is. I got the ball joint from NAPA. I need to get these out to get the upper ball joints out. Does anybody know what I am talking about? Where to get the tool? Or another way to get them out and get the new ones back in?

I am also going to replace the tie rod ends on this truck and have been looking around a prices and have found them for as much as $75 at NAPA and as cheep as $20 at LMC truck. Can any body tell me the difference between the qualities of these parts? :confused:

Thanks

Yes, I just did replaced my ball joints. I got the tool to remove the sleeves from CarQuest for about $20. It was an OTC brand but I don't have the part #.

The tie rod ends should range from $20 to $30. The $75 price may be for the long one that came on the 73 and up models, (on the 73 and up models the driver side tie rod end is the whole tie rod).

Just did mine to, borrowed a socket from my neighbor that he modified(grind) to make work. Are you sure the ball joint will not come out with-out removing the threaded sleeve? Should be able to have the top nut off and the bottom almost off and a few good smacks the whole steering knuckle should come off. At least mine did, then the threaded sleeve comes out easy.

Thanks guys I will give it a try and see what happens

Ball joint spanner wrench
As was stated you do not need to remove the adjusting sleeve to remove the ball joint .
But it will need to be torqued to 50 ft lbs when you install the new one.

Thanks again. I got the tool and all went well!

Now on to the next project!:D