Western 2.5 drop spindle hitting upper A arm

[Kennuck]

Just about done my Western Chassis Drop spindle install and as I was torquing the ball joints noticed this. The spindle is hitting on the upper A arm where the ball joint attaches. Anybody have this problem? Does it just need a little trim. This is steering we are messing with want it done right.

[tony58]

Do you have your suspension in the normal driving position? Just grind a little off the a arm edge

[pritch]

I had the exact same thing on my 2.5" drop, but mine is the McGonwhatever brand. Mine had a little bumps, kind of a raised up piece, that I ground off.


But I believed then and I believe still that once all the weight is back on, it would have cleared.

[rwhit57]

I think the others are right, with the weight back on it, it will be fine, but I would probably grind some off of the spindle if anything. There is plenty of meat there.

[Kennuck]

Yeah I didn't think about the suspension being at full droop. It clears when there is weight on it. Still it shouldn't hit at all, what happens when I do my Bo Duke impression and get some air, it's going to pull that ball joint apart.

I took my die grinder to the A arms its all good now.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Kennuck]

After getting by this minor problem I gotta say I'm pretty happy with Westerns spindles. Plenty of room for 8" Rallies even rusty ones haha.

[Tx Firefighter]

Kennuck, I want to point out that your upper ball joints are bolted in wrong. Notice how Pritch has his where the bolt heads are underneath and the nuts on top. His is correct. The reason is, when installed like you have them, when you fully inflate the ball joint boot with grease, the exposed ends of the bolt can rub through the rubber boot during driving conditions.

[Kennuck]

Thanks Tx that makes sense. I just looked closer at the instructions and it shows them going as you describe. Luckily I haven't inflated them with grease yet so I will flip them around.

[Kennuck]

I cleaned painted and re assembled my entire front end this weekend. All new A arm bushings and ball joints and installed my drop spindles. It was a busy couple days working all by myself but other than this small mistake all is good. To be honest I was more worried about threading those bushings into the A arm and shaft at the same time but that went pretty smooth. Live and learn.

[pritch]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Kennuck, I want to point out that your upper ball joints are bolted in wrong. Notice how Pritch has his where the bolt heads are underneath and the nuts on top. His is correct. The reason is, when installed like you have them, when you fully inflate the ball joint boot with grease, the exposed ends of the bolt can rub through the rubber boot during driving conditions.

Man, I made that same mistake, too

Someone here pointed that out to me, too. Putting them in from the top just seems natural.

[Doug19]

Sorry to bring this back up but I'm having the same issue. Also my ball joints say to torque down the nuts to 40-55 ft. Lbs for the upper. If I do this the nut is way past the hole.for the cotter pin and the spindle rubs big time. Any idea what doing wrong?

[Doug19]

I'm going to have the same issue with the lower nut too. I can turn it by my fingers and it is almost past the hole. I have 3" drop springs if that matters.

[Kennuck]

What year is your truck? 71-72 ball joints have smaller taper than 69-70.

[Doug19]

All parts are for a 72

[88Stanger]

Thanks for this, I am dealing with the same thing. Thanks again