I went to install new upper ball joints in the 70 Cutlass S. The original ones were riveted in, so I took the rivets out and removed the ball joints.

I went to assemble the new ball joints ( rubber boot, boot retainer) and place inside the hole in the control arm (from the top down) but the boot retainer would not fit. Its diameter is too big. So I took the off the boot retainer and placed the ball joint in the hole and installed the retainer from the bottom side.

Question is: Is this correct or do I have the wrong ball joints?

I want to install everything so I can drive car one of these days, but this issue is holding me up....

 

You ended up assembling it correctly. Boot & retainer go over the stud, below the control arm.

 

Thank you sir. Now I can get to gettin'

 

Sorry i didn't get back to you sooner- I wanted to look at my extra set of original arms before i answered.

The other gentleman is right on... the tin plate & rubber go on from teh bottom.

 

No problem. I figured I'd ask someone who was basically at the same point in dis-assembly/assembly.