Boy I screwed up this time. I’m replacing the upper ball joints in the A-arms for my TA. I remember years ago (about 35 years). I replaced mopar ball joints and remembered they screwed in and were a little tough. In the old days we would just impact them out and back in again. Well this time around I proceeded to do the same thing. Of course this time everything is all power coated and looking good. The power coaters were good about masking off where the bushings press in but not the threads were the ball joints go. So, I had to take a wire wheel and clean them up. Both ball joint started in good and straight and I tightened them in as far as I could with the breaker bar. I then proceeded to finish with the impact. Well Arm 1 went in but would not seat all the way down. It is up about an 1/8” from seating and will not move. Arm 2 did the same thing except when it got close to that 1/8” distance the ball joint striped right out. So, I have a couple of questions. First, could someone tell me the error of my ways? Is there any fix? Will I need to replace One a-arm or both and does anyone re-pop them or know where I can get them? I would prefer to get something new as the threads were kind of tore up on these. But, then again I seem to remember in the past the threads never looked to good.
Thanks in advance.
Dodge1933