Ball joint and spindle resistance

[dclowrider]

Hey everyone, I am doing a drop member version 6 on a '63. I installed the CPP spindles on the ball joints supplied with the drop member and I'm surprised at the amount of force needed to move the spindles. The upper ball joint is bolt in and the bottom is press fit. I used a ball joint press and let the ball joints sit in the freezer overnight. They were a tight fit but didn't seem to be too challenging to press in with a C-clamp style ball joint press. The ball joints are pro forged. Any body have any input for me? I torqued the lowers to 90ftlbs. And the uppers to 50ftlbs.

[forestb]

I had a set of cpp drop spindles that would rub against the upper control arm if the suspension did not have any wait on it. Could that be happening?

[dclowrider]

No. That's not the issue here. It just feels tighter than it should to me. Ball joints that is. I expected it to be easier to move the spindle back and forth.

[Captainfab]

Have you tried adding a little grease to them?

[dclowrider]

Yes. I have. I am mocking up so I will move forward with mock up and I will have to press them out later for powder coat. After I get the truck up on all fours I will see if the friction backs down to the point where it's acceptable. If not I can change them.

[DLW]

I have the same issue. I was told they may get better after driving with them for a while. I bought new ones to install now, as i don't even want to bother driving them like this. I can't turn mine by hand at all. It's been a while since I test fitted, but seems like they were OK before I pulled them out for powder coating, and when I re-installed they were very stiff. I don't have an answer for you, but rather in the same boat as you. Hopefully the new ones will resolve.

[dclowrider]

Thanks. I appreciate the input.