I need some help pressing the top ball joints into place. I rented the tool from Autozone and none of the sleeves will fit onto the lip to be able to press into place. I thought about placing the tool directly onto the ball joint but was afraid that all the pressure would cave it in. I pressed the bottom joints into place just fine. Just need some help figuring out to do the top ones with this press tool or something else. Thanks.

 

Put a small piece of plate steel across the top of the ball-joint then press it in, or use a BFH and a piece of 2x4 wood (not recommended).

 

I don't have a piece of steel. Any other ideas???

 

OK. Got the top ball joints pressed in. I did find a scrap piece of steel I used. Worked great! Now, another problem. I have put the knuckle back on and started tightening the bottom nut on the shaft of the bottom ball joint. I get to a certain point and the shaft starts spinning so that I can't tighten. How do I keep it from spinning?

 

So need to think outside the box, got a old lawnmower blade? some bigger washers, nut off a trailer hitch ball, pipe nipple, go in the basement, shed, barn look around.

 

Use some of the weight of the truck. Put a jack under the knuckle and jack it up a little. Dont lift the truck up on it, just enough to put some pressure on the joint to keep it from spinning.

 

You need to put a little bit of load on the outer C from the bottom then tighten the bottom nut then the top one, DO NOT USE the top ball joint nut to pull up the knuckle. Just use a bottle jack or the factory jack.

 

Good ideas. I will give it a shot with the jack. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

Just put the wheels back on and take it off the jack(s) and jack stands ,I hope you are using, and you'll be able to tighten them right up.