lower ball joints, help
 

Hey guy's I took my 69 C/10 to have the front end alligned. Guy tells me I need new ball joints. So I've been online, advance,autozone and napa. every one I've tried so far is shorter that the one I took out. In shorter I mean, I can barely get half a nut on the ball joint, it doesn't come through the spindle far enough to get a cotter pin back in it. The old one had plenty of room to put a cotter pin in and tighten the nut with some threads sticking through the nut... Whats the part number I need or where can I get these bottom ball joints. Oh I tried a 72 model it was long enough to get a cotter pin in, but the ball joint was to small to stay in the bottom a-frame. I need help

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

They are press fit so you have to get the stud through the spindle and seated. Have you layed them next to each other and made sure they are really shorter than the old ones?

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

yea I'm getting the ball joint up in the bottom a-arm housing, where its suppose to be. It's the threads don't come through the spindle far enough to get enough of the nut on it to put the cotter pin in. the older ones are long enough to get the cotter pin in. I just don't know what else to do

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

You have a swapped front end. Take the old joint out and try to match up. Don't be surprised if the auto parts people don't want to help out. You'll have to find someone willing to work with you.
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Re: lower ball joints, help
 

I think you hit the nail on the head Lee H. Guess I need to find a mom and pop owned parts store that has the knowledge to get a part without having to pull it up on a computer and tell you, this is it... Thanks for your time

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

You have 2 choices.
67-70
71-87

It's got to be one or the other.
What spindle do you have?
(I can't remember)

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

Disk? Drum?
5, or 6 lugs?

I think a 69 would originally be drum and 6 lug.

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

Correct. If it is original, it will be 6 lug drum only.

Most aftermarket disc brake spindles are set up for 73-87 parts.

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

They use to be just,... 73-87 spindles.
Now you can get:
60-62
63-70
71-72
73-87

No need to change balljoints and tie rods anymore.
If I remember correctly,... the OP has disc brakes up front,... but I could be mistaken.

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

Its been changed over to 5 lug disc's on the front. Hard to tell what model it would be. I do know its not a 72 cause the ball joint is to loose in the a-arm. napa guy says they show the same part number from 67-72, already know thats wrong. got the one for a 72 at advance, they ordered another one for a 69, said that looked like it. dude at autozone had one for a 72 and couldn't read a mic, handed it to me. yea its to small. I bought a nos from brothers for the top it was for a 72, only had the one though got the other one at napa. Napa seems to be as close as I can get. I went on there web site, They actually show two different lower ball joints for a 69. So I ordered both of them. Don't know why the guy's computer at NAPA didn't show that. The biggest problem I've found none of the parts store stock any parts for the truck, you cant match anything up. All I can get is a picture. Eventually I'll get it figured out, Can't give up gotta "keep on truckin" Thanks for all the help and info guys.

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

The lower balljoint hole in the a-arms are the same size for all 1/2 ton 67-87 a-arms.
(only 3/4 ton lower a-arm ball joint holes are bigger)
Maybe the hole in your a-arm is wore out or "egg shaped".

Ball joint are as follows:
Upper:
67-70
71-72
73-87

Lowers:
67-70
71-87

If your upper is a 72 balljoint,... the lower would be a 71-87.

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

Probably something simple. I had to press the ones for a 69 back in though. Thanks
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Re: lower ball joints, help
 

Good info guys :metal:

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

I know this is an old thread but by chance does anyone know if the hole for the 62-66 ball joints is the same size as the newer ones?

Re: lower ball joints, help
 

I am pretty sure it is the same as the 67-70