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DakAttack
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2005
20:41:32

Subject: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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I've serached on here, and without reading every post that mentions ball joints, I can't find one that gives a trick to getting the new joint to fit all the way into the tapered hole on the steering knuckle. I tried to tighten the heck out of it, and lift the lower arm with a jack, but it's not budging... any tricks? Thanks..



hdtv
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4/06/2005
21:20:26

RE: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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The upper and lower ball joints has to be aligned then it should go in. By the way how did you remove the lower ball joint? When I did mine, I had to chisel off the rivets and pound the crap out of it to come off



DakAttack
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4/07/2005
07:00:46

RE: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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I had everything lined up, I can get it about half way into the tapered hole, it won't budge another millimeter. The lowers on mine are pressed in, I just had to chisel off a flared edge and then I have that big ball joint press tool, it popped right out.



ROD
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4/07/2005
07:15:15

RE: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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I stuck mine in the freezer the night before I swapped them out and used the ball joint press to press them back in. I had to crank on the press tool with a cheater bar to get them in all the way. It kinda distorted the sleeve of the press by the time I got the second one in, but I couldn't see any other way to do it. Good luck!

'02 QC AWD 4.7L 4X4 LSD

DakAttack
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2005
09:01:40

RE: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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ROD, was that for the uppers? to get the tapered end into the tapered hole? I guess I'm going to have to try that.



CP
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2005
14:10:45

RE: Install Tapered B-joint tricks?
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Different Gen's have different designs. On some 4x4's, the ball joints are replaceable with 4x4 ball joint service tools. On others, rivets need to be busted. Here's my take on that last, tiny, 1/16" gap. You hit it with a press, you hit it with a mallet. You even torqued on it with a b/j press and a 500 ft-lbs impact wrench. I think it is about as seated as it ever will be. If it does finally drop in, do you really think you will need an alignment on that 4300 lb truck with 235/75's or 31x9.5 tires? I wouldnt worry as long as you put the hurt on it.



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