i recently redid my own ball joints, and finally got the car in today to get the front end aligned, and they told me that the ball joints weren't pressed in enough ( i told them i recently had them redone).. but when i pressed them in, i used a large C-clamp type ball joint press, and pressed them all the way until they touched the A-arm, and turned the clamp another half turn or so, and i could definatly tell that it was harder to turn, so i figured they were in tight enough. how should i of done it??


also, they told me that one the ball joint nuts wasn't tight enough. from what i read, with the nuts, you just tighten them down just enough until u can put the cotter pin through, and to only tighten them not loosen, how tight should i of tighten it down?

could maybe somethign else be going bad instead of the ball joints? since they told me that my A-arm bushing also needed replacing, could that of tricked them to thinking the ball joints were going bad??

 

The ball joints have to be pressed in until they bottom out(stop moving). The nut should have a specific torque, then move it tighter to install the pin. A good mechanic would never be confused by bad bushings and ball-joints.

 

This is likely somewhat repetitive - but still...: I'm putting back together my suspension after pulling the front springs (they were in up-side-down! yay!) so how should i re-assemble the lower a-arm and spindle? I was going to use a jack to hold the a-arm up and then just tighten the nut...but i'm thinking this i no good? What's the best way to do it guys? Also - how thick is the spacer supposed to be in the car? Thanks again!

TP