Real dumb question about installing upper ball joints 79
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 992
Likes: 28
From: Sutton MA
Removed the original ball joints, drilled out the rivets, cleaned and painted the a-arms. I bought the wilcox USA kit, The question I have is, do I put the rubber boot on first before I install the ball joint into the a-arm or after I install the ball joint?
I'll post some pictures as soon as they update from the cloud.
I'll post some pictures as soon as they update from the cloud.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 992
Likes: 28
From: Sutton MA
Thanks for the reply, here are the pictures as promised,
See the rib, now when I DO put the boot on and push the ball joint in the hole and over that rib it rests on the very top "lip" of the boot, which means when I tighten it down I will squish the lip between the ball joint and the A-arm. This is different than what came out.
See the rib, now when I DO put the boot on and push the ball joint in the hole and over that rib it rests on the very top "lip" of the boot, which means when I tighten it down I will squish the lip between the ball joint and the A-arm. This is different than what came out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,304
Likes: 278
From: Ocala FL
Notice what he says:
Put the ball joint in the a-frame and then put the boot on. You then install the ball joint in the spindle. Obviously, you cannot install the boot after it is in the spindle.
Many times the boot is too thick to put it on BEFORE going through the a-frame and is between the ball joint and the a-frame, making it an unsafe mount (the rubber will compress and the ball joint will loosen), which is what you are finding in yours.
Many times the boot is too thick to put it on BEFORE going through the a-frame and is between the ball joint and the a-frame, making it an unsafe mount (the rubber will compress and the ball joint will loosen), which is what you are finding in yours.
