Upper Ball Joint Trouble

[Camaro_nut2001]

Hello, I replaced my upper control arm shaft and bushings on my '69 C10 and new upper ball joint and new rubber bumper. The trouble is I can't get the new upper ball joint in the spindle enough to start my nut. I have tried a C-clamp and hammer and I can get it almost enough to feel a thread but I can't get it to go any further to get the nut on to tighten it up. I checked the ball joint to the old one and it's the same. Anyone got a trick to getting it in enough to get my nut on? Thank you

[Camaro_nut2001]

Anybody?? Need help, lol.

[jasonb72]

I just replace a ball joint that was brand new and it was seized up, if you cant move it with a hammer then you may want to exchange it for another.

[LONGHAIR]

I guess I don't understand your problem? Why won't it fit?
If the stud will physically go into the hole and you just can't push it in far enough, something is in the way. Since you said the upper bump-stop is new, the upper control arm is not going to move downward as far as it did before. So you are going to have to move the lower control arm/spindle upward. If the truck is complete it's as simple as jacking up on the lower control arm. If this is just a bare frame, or maybe even if the engine is out, it's not that simple. There isn't enough weight to keep it from jacking the whole works...
The simple trick for this is a piece of chain. Run the chain around the frame and through the axle of your floor jack. Then when you jack the lower control arm upward, the frame doesn't go with it.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Thank you Longhair, I will try that.

[kev2809]

can you post some pics? i thought the new ones just bolt in. i just changed out mine on my 67 with the control arms off. just dropped it in and bolted them down. i even pressed out and pressed in the new ones on the lowers with control arm off the truck. wasnt hard at all, i just stepped on the back side with my foot while i tightened up the clamp.