Ball joint torque?
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Ball joint torque?
Does anyone know the torque specs on the upper and lower ball joints for a '99 1500 4x4 with Link/Coil suspension? My chilton manual doesn't offer any procedures or specs for it, although it lists procedures for getting off the steering knuckle, and lists the ball joint procedures and stats for a truck with independent front suspension. Also, the Moog joint comes with instructions that specify 75ft/lb. If the OEM specs differ from this, you use the OEM, right?
And, to keep others forewarned; FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE BALL JOINT PRESS. The only other ball joint I had removed was the tie rod joint, and that was 5 minutes before removing the upper. The press instructions said to put the plate with the big hole over the stud. I thought that that didn't make any sense. Surely I have to push on the stud just like I did with the tie rod end, right? But the plate with the big hole was too big. So I tried laying a crescent wrench handle across it to leverage the stud and bent my wrench. So then I got creative and put the tie rod puller on the press. It looked a little unstable, but it grabbed hold and worked. I was able to press the stud out...
For those of you (like me) who don't know, this is not what it is supposed to look like when you are done. That is the ball stud laying on the bottom of the yoke. The housing for the ball joint is still pressed in at the top. I had to then put the press on the way the instructions had been telling me to do it the first time to get the housing out.
And, to keep others forewarned; FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE BALL JOINT PRESS. The only other ball joint I had removed was the tie rod joint, and that was 5 minutes before removing the upper. The press instructions said to put the plate with the big hole over the stud. I thought that that didn't make any sense. Surely I have to push on the stud just like I did with the tie rod end, right? But the plate with the big hole was too big. So I tried laying a crescent wrench handle across it to leverage the stud and bent my wrench. So then I got creative and put the tie rod puller on the press. It looked a little unstable, but it grabbed hold and worked. I was able to press the stud out...
For those of you (like me) who don't know, this is not what it is supposed to look like when you are done. That is the ball stud laying on the bottom of the yoke. The housing for the ball joint is still pressed in at the top. I had to then put the press on the way the instructions had been telling me to do it the first time to get the housing out.
Last edited by programmertim; Sep 30, 2009 at 11:30 PM.
