Ball joint adjuster sleeve issue.

[Slat02]

Hello everyone, this is my first post to this site, and I was hopping someone could help me. I have an '87 K5 that I am currently swapping a d44 and 14ff into. I am currently replacing the ball joints in the d44, and I have ran into a problem. When I torque the adjuster sleeve to the recommended 50 ft. lbs. it takes way more than 25 lbs of force to move the knuckle. When I say way more, I mean WAY more. Also, when I tighten the sleeve it goes real deep into the knuckle. When I took everything apart the old sleeve was at the top of the knuckle, and it was only finger tight. I have read through the instructions in my Haynes manual multiple times, and I have read through almost every ball joint related thread on here. They all say about the same thing. I just don't want to put this thing back together wrong, just to have to re-do it in a month or something. The axle is out of a '74 K20 if that helps. Again, any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[bigblock72]

The way I've always done ball joints is: Torque the nut on lower ball joint, torque lightly oiled pre-load sleeve to 40 ft lbs, torque nut on upper ball joint then grease. If the knuckle turns then it's ok. Some ball joints are tighter than others and there isn't much you can do about it. It is what it is.

 

[Slat02]

Thanks for the input. I am going to try to finish this axle tonight.

 

[m4]

http://nashvillek5.freeservers.com/balljoints.htm

Have you seen this post? Shawn