ball joint question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**JIMs70GMC** · 04-28-2004, 05:56 AM

I'm installing ball joints in my 71 front dana44, and have a question. I pressed in the new ball joints and installed the pass side steering knuckle, torqued the lower to 80 then the tapered nut to 50 and when I tightened the upper nut to 100 the castle nut is below the hole for the cotter pin i.e the pin does not go through the castle. I measured the driver side ball joints to the old ones and they are all the same. What happened? I'll take some pics this afternoon.

Dean · 04-28-2004, 07:41 AM

I don't remember having this problem. I'll look at the pics and compare to mine when you post them.

HeavyK20 · 04-28-2004, 05:31 PM

You may have the wrong ball joints. I rebuilt a C20 front end and the upper joints had washers under the nut. I found out that there is a difference in lenght between upper and lower joints and someone put lowers ball joints in the upper sockets.

I'm not sure if this is the case for 4wd but maybe the parts store gave you C20 parts instead of K20 parts.

**JIMs70GMC** · 04-28-2004, 08:45 PM

The nuts were different! I bought auto zone ones and the nut for the upper ball joint was tiny same size as the lower but w/ the castle and the ball joint had the hole for the cotter pin. Sooooo

I went to NAPA and bought new ones and used the autozone loaner tool and installed them. I have them finger tight on the truck. The NAPA ones have a larger nut that takes an 1 5/16 socket where as the autozone one was metric between 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 socket! I will be taking them back tomorrow.

**JIMs70GMC** · 04-28-2004, 08:46 PM

Also got the new steering arm installed.

griesel72 · 04-29-2004, 08:52 AM

Jim, i was wondering if you you could post a picture of how your rear shock mounts to the rearend. I am getting ready to slap on some shocks, and think that my 14 bolt might mount up differently than your dana 60
Thanks
David

**JIMs70GMC** · 04-29-2004, 08:10 PM

I think you'll have to move the shock mounts pm, beast388 he just went through this.

04-28-2004, 05:56 AM	#1
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	ball joint question I'm installing ball joints in my 71 front dana44, and have a question. I pressed in the new ball joints and installed the pass side steering knuckle, torqued the lower to 80 then the tapered nut to 50 and when I tightened the upper nut to 100 the castle nut is below the hole for the cotter pin i.e the pin does not go through the castle. I measured the driver side ball joints to the old ones and they are all the same. What happened? I'll take some pics this afternoon. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

04-28-2004, 05:31 PM	#3
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	You may have the wrong ball joints. I rebuilt a C20 front end and the upper joints had washers under the nut. I found out that there is a difference in lenght between upper and lower joints and someone put lowers ball joints in the upper sockets. I'm not sure if this is the case for 4wd but maybe the parts store gave you C20 parts instead of K20 parts. __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

04-28-2004, 08:45 PM	#4
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	found the problem The nuts were different! I bought auto zone ones and the nut for the upper ball joint was tiny same size as the lower but w/ the castle and the ball joint had the hole for the cotter pin. Sooooo I went to NAPA and bought new ones and used the autozone loaner tool and installed them. I have them finger tight on the truck. The NAPA ones have a larger nut that takes an 1 5/16 socket where as the autozone one was metric between 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 socket! I will be taking them back tomorrow. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

04-28-2004, 08:46 PM	#5
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	driver side Also got the new steering arm installed. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

04-29-2004, 08:52 AM	#6
griesel72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Howard, Kansas USA Posts: 1,997	Jim, i was wondering if you you could post a picture of how your rear shock mounts to the rearend. I am getting ready to slap on some shocks, and think that my 14 bolt might mount up differently than your dana 60 Thanks David __________________ 1969 K10 Custom 10 1997 Z71 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 2006 King Ranch 1980 Wife

04-28-2004, 07:41 AM	#2
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	I don't remember having this problem. I'll look at the pics and compare to mine when you post them.

04-29-2004, 08:10 PM	#7
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	I think you'll have to move the shock mounts pm, beast388 he just went through this. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm



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