1975 k10

[dondons84]

Hey guys so I'm stuck hard. I am replacing my front ball joint (upper) and I can't get it out at all. I have used a pickle fork and banged on it good and nothing. So I guess I have to take off some parts or something to get it to cone loose? Heat? What do I do?

[05duramaxhd]

autozone rents a ball joint tool looks like a big C-clamp. they are pressed in

[willett]

Hammer on the side of the casting that the joint presses into while prying lightly on the bj

[dondons84]

My problem I am having is the but that I removed was from the top and not under. I think the idiot put them on backwards cause everything I see has the bolt under and not on top

[crashz]

The ball joints sit in the outer section of the knuckle and the tapered end are bolted into the inner section on the axle housing. I really can't remember the way I've done these (its been ~20 years), but I do remember this:

When installing the new taper ball joint stud, DO NOT over-tighten. I tightened up the castle nut to as tight as I could move the wrench (I was young and had no idea about fastener torque, thought everything was tighten to gorilla strength). I needed just a little more to insert the cotter pin. Used a cheater to get the extra 1/8th turn, reassembled and put the truck on the ground (this was my 83 K2500). As soon as the weight was on the front I heard a loud bang like a gunshot. Sure enough, I cracked the housing at the outer most point along the tapered seat. Had to junk the front axle that I finished rebuilding.