Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SoCalSlaughter · 08-08-2019, 12:46 AM

Hello all. I recently replaced the front ball joints on my 90' V2500 Suburban with AcDelco units. I bought all the correct tools, followed all the torque specs and now the truck has memory steer. Today I torn down the driver side knuckle and only tightened the lower ball joint to spec, with the top adjuster loose and the knuckle is hard to turn by hand. The front axle is a Corp 10 bolt. The Spec I followed was: Torque bottom ball joint to 30lbs, torque adjuster to 50lbs, then lower joint to 70lbs then top ball joint to 80-100lbs. After this, if Im driving 10mph and turn slight to the right, the truck will continue to go right, I have to turn it back left. Any help/tricks/tips would help. Thanks!

**mongocanfly** · 08-08-2019, 08:33 AM

Have you had it aligned?

**kwmech** · 08-08-2019, 11:23 AM

Don't know where you got those specs. Loosen everything up. Lower bj to 80. upper adjuster to 50. Upper lock nut to 100 ish, to lineup slot for cotter pin ..done. I aways use the spicer joints

SoCalSlaughter · 08-08-2019, 01:44 PM

I had found the specs I used on a post I found here. Yesterday I torn down the driver side, had the knuckle loose, tightened only the lower joint to 70lbs and the knuckle was still hard to move. Seems like the joint is binding. I'm starting to think the AcDelco joints I got are no good in this situation.

**mongocanfly** · 08-08-2019, 02:33 PM

They're gonna be tight when new...just put a set on mine when I changed to crossover steering...even the old ones were tight

**kwmech** · 08-09-2019, 10:45 AM

Lower joint has nothing to do with the 'tightness' other than the manufacturing of the joint. Adjustment comes from the top....kinda

sweetk30 · 08-09-2019, 11:26 AM

how was the axle u-joint ? if getting stiff or binding this can cause memory steer if it parks in the wrong spot as it will bind in the same motion the knuckle wants to turn .

and there is a pull spec on the ball joints using a hanging scale on the tie rod hole of i think its 25lbs of drag / force to move the knuckle .

were these ball joints greaseable ? and i tend to do moog as lots of acdelco now is china stuff . always had good luck with moog my self .

08-08-2019, 12:46 AM	#1
SoCalSlaughter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura Posts: 151	Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment Hello all. I recently replaced the front ball joints on my 90' V2500 Suburban with AcDelco units. I bought all the correct tools, followed all the torque specs and now the truck has memory steer. Today I torn down the driver side knuckle and only tightened the lower ball joint to spec, with the top adjuster loose and the knuckle is hard to turn by hand. The front axle is a Corp 10 bolt. The Spec I followed was: Torque bottom ball joint to 30lbs, torque adjuster to 50lbs, then lower joint to 70lbs then top ball joint to 80-100lbs. After this, if Im driving 10mph and turn slight to the right, the truck will continue to go right, I have to turn it back left. Any help/tricks/tips would help. Thanks! __________________ 1990 Chevy Suburban v2500 1990 Chevy/Geo Tracker LSi 4x4 2Dr 1996 Chevy/Geo Tracker LSI 4x4 4Dr 2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab LT 1991 Nissan 300zx SlickTop

08-08-2019, 08:33 AM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment Have you had it aligned? __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

08-08-2019, 11:23 AM	#3
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,628	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment Don't know where you got those specs. Loosen everything up. Lower bj to 80. upper adjuster to 50. Upper lock nut to 100 ish, to lineup slot for cotter pin ..done. I aways use the spicer joints

08-08-2019, 01:44 PM	#4
SoCalSlaughter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ventura Posts: 151	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment I had found the specs I used on a post I found here. Yesterday I torn down the driver side, had the knuckle loose, tightened only the lower joint to 70lbs and the knuckle was still hard to move. Seems like the joint is binding. I'm starting to think the AcDelco joints I got are no good in this situation. __________________ 1990 Chevy Suburban v2500 1990 Chevy/Geo Tracker LSi 4x4 2Dr 1996 Chevy/Geo Tracker LSI 4x4 4Dr 2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab LT 1991 Nissan 300zx SlickTop

08-08-2019, 02:33 PM	#5
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment They're gonna be tight when new...just put a set on mine when I changed to crossover steering...even the old ones were tight __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

08-09-2019, 10:45 AM	#6
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,628	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment Lower joint has nothing to do with the 'tightness' other than the manufacturing of the joint. Adjustment comes from the top....kinda

08-09-2019, 11:26 AM	#7
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Knuckles hard to turn after ball joint replacment how was the axle u-joint ? if getting stiff or binding this can cause memory steer if it parks in the wrong spot as it will bind in the same motion the knuckle wants to turn . and there is a pull spec on the ball joints using a hanging scale on the tie rod hole of i think its 25lbs of drag / force to move the knuckle . were these ball joints greaseable ? and i tend to do moog as lots of acdelco now is china stuff . always had good luck with moog my self . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

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