Lower Ball Joint Issue - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**lkt1954** · 07-31-2021, 07:40 PM

I'm in the process of installing a coil over conversion from POL on a 69 chevy truck (bare fame). I have the upper and lower control arms and coil overs installed on both sides.
When I go to put the spindle the right side the castle nut will not screw very far down on the lower ball joint stud, it will only screw down to where the castles start- then it binds up. I tried the castle nut from the other side same thing, yet both castle nuts screw on the other lower ball joint stud just fine.
I thought maybe a damaged thread, so I took a 5/8"-18NF die and ran it all the way down the stud to clean the threads, a little resistance but not much. The second time I ran the die on the stud I could do it by hand till it bottomed out. Tried the castle nut again and the results were the same it will go as far as where the castle start and no further. I didn't try to force for fear of galling the nut to the stud.
It's almost like the shaft is a little larger and the nut stop there, yet I can run a die down it with no problem.
The only thing I have not done is run a tap through the nut and I haven't because it goes on the other side shaft just fine.
Any ideas of what could be going on here?
Thanks

**mongocanfly** · 07-31-2021, 11:15 PM

I was gonna say ...tap thru the nut...could be just a bur on the castles..

**lkt1954** · 08-01-2021, 09:17 AM

That was my first thought also, yet the castle nuts both fitting the other ball joint makes me hesitate to go spend $ 20.00 on a tap.

SCOTI · 08-02-2021, 11:51 AM

Do both nuts hang up in the same spot on the BJ stud in question?

**lkt1954** · 08-02-2021, 01:08 PM

Yes both nuts hang up in the same spot on this stud, but do not hang up on the other lower ball joint stud.

SCOTI · 08-02-2021, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkt1954

Yes both nuts hang up in the same spot on this stud, but do not hang up on the other lower ball joint stud.

I would contact your parts source & discuss the situation before moving forward. See how they think you should proceed. Most likely, if you tighten the current one w/o them understanding the issue before then & the threads are jacked after, it becomes your problem.

Since you ran a die down it already, if you're concerned about the threads still galling I'd say your best option is to source another lower BJ & return the one that has this issue.

crazy longhorn · 08-06-2021, 03:50 PM

I would almost bet, that you have a 73-up spindle.....the taper is different on the upper ball joint, & the outer tie rod. The bottom ball joint , should be the same(71-72), as the 73-87 on the 1/2 ton truck. If you talk 3/4 ton truck, 71- 87, should be the same

longhorn

crazy longhorn · 08-08-2021, 03:41 PM

OOps....I missed that it was the lower ball joint issue? From what I understand, it is a 1 side only deal? Could it be that you have 2 different yr spindles, that had a different taper.....or one ball joint is the wrong yr? Scotty, or Capt fab, can probably tell you more

longhorn

**lkt1954** · 08-08-2021, 11:27 PM

It could be a bad ball joint, however the castle nut from it fit the other lower ball joint just fine.
I did find out the threads are MM, so I'm getting a M16-1.25 die to see if it will clean up the threads before I pull the control arm to press in another ball joint.

07-31-2021, 07:40 PM	#1
lkt1954 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dumas, Texas Posts: 214	Lower Ball Joint Issue I'm in the process of installing a coil over conversion from POL on a 69 chevy truck (bare fame). I have the upper and lower control arms and coil overs installed on both sides. When I go to put the spindle the right side the castle nut will not screw very far down on the lower ball joint stud, it will only screw down to where the castles start- then it binds up. I tried the castle nut from the other side same thing, yet both castle nuts screw on the other lower ball joint stud just fine. I thought maybe a damaged thread, so I took a 5/8"-18NF die and ran it all the way down the stud to clean the threads, a little resistance but not much. The second time I ran the die on the stud I could do it by hand till it bottomed out. Tried the castle nut again and the results were the same it will go as far as where the castle start and no further. I didn't try to force for fear of galling the nut to the stud. It's almost like the shaft is a little larger and the nut stop there, yet I can run a die down it with no problem. The only thing I have not done is run a tap through the nut and I haven't because it goes on the other side shaft just fine. Any ideas of what could be going on here? Thanks

07-31-2021, 11:15 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue I was gonna say ...tap thru the nut...could be just a bur on the castles.. __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

08-01-2021, 09:17 AM	#3
lkt1954 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dumas, Texas Posts: 214	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue That was my first thought also, yet the castle nuts both fitting the other ball joint makes me hesitate to go spend $ 20.00 on a tap.

08-02-2021, 11:51 AM	#4
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,064	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue Do both nuts hang up in the same spot on the BJ stud in question? __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

08-02-2021, 01:08 PM	#5
lkt1954 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dumas, Texas Posts: 214	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue Yes both nuts hang up in the same spot on this stud, but do not hang up on the other lower ball joint stud.

08-06-2021, 03:50 PM	#7
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue I would almost bet, that you have a 73-up spindle.....the taper is different on the upper ball joint, & the outer tie rod. The bottom ball joint , should be the same(71-72), as the 73-87 on the 1/2 ton truck. If you talk 3/4 ton truck, 71- 87, should be the same longhorn __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

08-08-2021, 03:41 PM	#8
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue OOps....I missed that it was the lower ball joint issue? From what I understand, it is a 1 side only deal? Could it be that you have 2 different yr spindles, that had a different taper.....or one ball joint is the wrong yr? Scotty, or Capt fab, can probably tell you more longhorn __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

08-08-2021, 11:27 PM	#9
lkt1954 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dumas, Texas Posts: 214	Re: Lower Ball Joint Issue It could be a bad ball joint, however the castle nut from it fit the other lower ball joint just fine. I did find out the threads are MM, so I'm getting a M16-1.25 die to see if it will clean up the threads before I pull the control arm to press in another ball joint.



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