from ball joints to bump stops

[J__]

ok im about to ask a couple of stupid questions lol. im in the process of putting my car back together, do i need to press the ball joints and tierods back into the knuckle with a press? or do i just put it in by hand and tighten the nut until it cant be tightened anymore?

 

2nd question is for the bump stops, i have the hyper flex ones from the bushing kit, its tapered at one end, im goin to cut them a bit to allow more travel. but can i put the bumpstops in upsidedown? the tapered end should point down towards the ground i assume. but the flat end doesnt allow the bump stop to sit flush at the top because the inside of the spring upper seat is curved. if i bottom the car the bumpstop will get pushed into the seat the the curved edge will rub and destroy the bump stop. im pretty sure thats how the old ones broke apart. from looking at one of the remains, the top of the bump stop corroded away from rubbing against the top of the seat becuase it was flat and the seat was curved. i drew a picture to show it better... did it at 4:40 am freehand so it's not straight and looks like crap lol dont laugh

 

#1 is the bump stop pointing down like it should, but the flat end doesnt sit flush with the curved upper spring seat so the sides rub the bump stop and eventually it'll probably discintegrate.

#2 is turning the bump stop upside down so it sits properly

 

[dj paul]

id say go for it! lol. but your number 2 drawing makes more sense to me. are you assuming thats the correct way just because that was how they were in there before?

[J__]

yea to me it makes more sense to have it this way. im assuming its the right way having the tapered way pointing down because in the haynes manual and the factory Z manual the diagram all show the bump stop pointing down. so im assuming it poins down hehe