I started off today by installing the ball joints.
First step is to clean the control arm so there's no goop in there to make the press fit of the ball joint any tighter than it already is.
Screw them in...
Always put something into the ball joint and turn the spindle of it so the cotter pin holes are front to rear. That saves a lot of hassle trying to get the cotter pin in a weird direction later.
This is where so many guys mess up. I bet I've seen it literally a hundred times on this board. No one ever listens when I point it out either. The upper ball joint bolts have to be installed from the bottom. If you don't, the exposed threads will cut into the rubber boot down the road.
I got a couple of valve stems at the parts store and spooned the tires onto the wheels. I'll have them balanced once I get the entire project complete. No sense paying someone to put the tires on the wheels though.
Comparison of the old 275/60s on 8 inch wheel to the new 245/60s on 6.5 inch wheel.
