I purchased a set of reproduction Ball joints for the Ranch Wagon. I just couldn’t find NOS lower ball joints at a reasonable price. So I found the best quality reproductions available. The rubber grease boots are high quality, which is important to look for in a reproduction ball joint. Too often the boot ages quickly, dries out and becomes brittle. This leads to it tearing and falling apart. Then the grease won’t stay in the housing, and grit and contaminants can get into it and ruin the ball joint. The vendors don’t sell the grease boot by itself, so you are usually stuck buying a new ball joint just for the boot. FRUSTRATING!!!
I have soaked the upper control arms, ground the factory rivets off of the upper ball joints, hammered them out, and will be sand blasting them tomorrow. I then plan on taking them and a number of other items to the powder coater. I am cutting it close to self imposed deadline of September 15 to have the front suspension refurbished/replaced and the wheels on the ground, but I think I can make it.
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