Upper control arm issues

[FDLWproject]

Good evening folks.

Installed the front and lower control arms and front suspension today with no issues. Went real smooth.

However, I ran into a few issues once I started trying to add the spindles.

Issue 1 - I wasn't paying attention to the manual closely (side note - they like to skip obvious things that are hang-ups for us newbies!) and didn't put a dust boot on the upper control arm before threading the upper ball joint through the spindle and tightening the castle nut. I realized this, took the castle nut off, and cannot seem to get the upper control arm ball joint to go back up through the spindle. Tried adjusting the upper control alignment to relieve some pressure, tried a rubber mallet, wrench for leverage, etc. That bad boy is stuck good. Any ideas on how to get it to release? It seems that the ball joint from the upper is seated too far through the spindle and is stuck.

Issue 2 - Once I realized I had left said boot off, I realized that was because I had not received any. There are blue boots for the lower control ball joints, but the upper didn't come with any boots. Am I missing something? All of the pictures I can find online, in FFR youtube videos etc, have ball joint dust boots on the upper also. Right now it would be exposed, which is not ideal.

Thanks!

[edwardb]

It's a tapered fit, and once torqued can really be wedged in place. Common release method is a good rap on the side of the spindle next to the ball joint stud with a real hammer. Not a rubber mallet. They usually will fall out. Assuming you're using the kit provided Mevotech ball joints, in my experience the boot is in the box with the ball joint. Along with the castle nut, cotter pin, and grease fitting. Having said that, a bunch of us upgrade the upper ball joint boots to Energy Suspension 5.13102G Ball Joint Dust Boots. A significantly better part than the stock boots. The part number will yield four boots (uppers and lowers) and you won't use the lower ones. Not available separately. But not expensive.