Was hoping i wouldn't have to create a new thread but couldn't find what i needed. I have a 2001 4x4 truck with a 99 front axle swapped under it (quickest one i could get a hold of), this means that i now have the single piston brake calipers. To get the dual pistons back from the 01 style i plan on taking the steering knuckles off of the 01 and putting them on the 99 axle. However, my problem is while the top ball joints are the same in the two years the bottom is different, according to RA parts lists.
So... do i want to use a 01 or a 99 lower ball joint to get a proper and safe fit?

 

Go to your local neighborhood parts store, and physically inspect both joints. See what the difference is.

 

Didn't they switch what the ball joint is pressed in to during that Time? Old style pressed in the knuckle. New style pressed in the axle.

 

As far as i can tell the two set up the same way so i guess i'll have to go with heyyou and check the auto place when the weather clears up some.

 

Why not just get a machineist to make some new mounts

 

Alright ran by the az store and compared the two lower ball joints side by side. the ball joint housing (widest portion) as well as the joint shaft diameter are both the same however the shaft length and nut used are where the two vary. For the 99' the shaft is shorter and uses a regular nut. However on the 01' the shaft is considerably longer and uses a castle nut. Therefor based on my desire to mount an 01' steering knuckle to a 99 axle i'm going to use the 01' ball joint.

 

Take pics of the process please, and we really wanna see how this turns out. If it works the way I hope it does, this may become the next 'favorite' brake update for the half ton folks.

 

i can do that, it will take a while though because i'm working on basically every part of the truck and haven't decided when i'll get to that bit. when i do though i'll try to document the process. could be as much as a couple month.

 

That works.