Upper Ball Joint Spacer/shim?

[ibrown50]

This may be a really dumb question but......

I am fitting new upper ball joints to my 64 C10. The base of the rubber boot, where it meets the mounting plate, has a spigot which is a larger diameter than the hole in the control arm (by approx 1/4" - 5/16").




When the ball joint is pushed through the hole it cannot go all the way through and sit flush and therefore leaves a gap,



It's months since I stripped the control arms and the old ball joints are long gone so I've nothing to compare them to.

So my dumb question, am I missing a spacer or should the ball joints pass all the way through the hole?

Any advice appreciated

Cheers Ian

[clemsonteg]

On mine the boot went on from the bottom. I believe the boot had a metal top piece with holes for the bolts. The control arm is essentially sandwiched between the ball joint and boot

[ibrown50]

Thanks, I know the type you mean, but with these ball joints the boot is bonded to the base plate and the larger diameter is metal, it looks like its all rubber but unfortunately its metal underneath,

[PGSigns]

All you need to do is pop the boot off with a screw driver and you will be good to go. Put the ball joint in and put the boot back on.
Jimmy

[chevy_mike]

That lip is a metal ring that is encased in the rubber boot part. It is what hold the boot to the ball joint. Slide a flat blade screw driver under it and work it off. Install the ball joint and then press the boot back on. Make sure you bolts are going in from the bottom up, with nuts on the top of the arm/ball joint.

[ibrown50]

Yup, put a srew driver under it and it popped right off ( I knew it was a dumb question ),



Thank you to all for taking the time to respond, it's really helped.

[chevy_mike]

No dumb questions. Glad you got it solved.