I received the ball joint socket and with the help of 5 feet of pipe, the ball joints came out well. I had to keep the pipe on the whole way. Now a question, I can't seem to get the new ones to thread in. I am afraid to apply the pipe leverage to it but it seems to be the only way. They appear to be straight and not cross-threaded. Should they be that tough going on? I wondered if maybe because the threads are shallow that the ball joints are also very tight so they kinda "self-compress". Also, one side I am unable to even get the old joint to thread in at all. I wonder if I boogered the upper control arm since that was the one I messed with so much before hearing about the socket. Perhaps I need new control arm(s)?? Thanks as always.

Mike

Are you sure you got the correct balljoint? If you got the larger '73-76 units by mistake, they will not thread in. The threads were cut by the original balljoints, so the new ones will probaby go in tight anyway. I found mine went in tight, but then were slightly loose (3rd set for these UCAs), so I did little stitch welds on 3 sides of the balljoint caps after threading them in.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Well, the car is a 73 Duster but not sure if it has the original UCA. But if it does, I probably have the right ones then??? I called the just suspension guys and he said I may need to file down a bit inside the UCA. On the drivers side I can't even get a joint started. On the other side, I get about 2 turns before I am unable to turn it with just a ratchet. I hated to put the pipe on it so soon...if I only had the last turn or so, it would probably be OK. Thanks.

Mike