Stiff Ball Joints?

first, remember I am learning so my comments are more of a question. interesting check. appears to be very revealant and required.

Have you just worked the a arm back and forth multiple times in an attemtp to free up the ball fits. the other would be removing the grease plug to see if the internal pressure has it locked up.

are ball joints capable of spinning complete rotations? if so, would it have been possible to use a wrench on the nut and check before installing

PS edit;
I found the following instructions however I don't know what vehicle they are for.

I just bolted them in, and the upright is installed, so I can't do your checks in a stand-alone condition.

I noted at least one was stiff before it was installed.

I removed the suspension (both upper and lower arms) and am working the joints this way (I can get both rotation, and angular movement on them individually).

They are tight, but a little better.

Thanks -

Rocky

the sales photo shows they do NOT have grease fittings, is that the case?

Just curious and if you have, what would be the dimension of the "arm" from the ball joint line to the streering arm connnection
summing the torques on that illustration and assuming 12" arm gives about the 8# pull you stated

* * * UPDATE: I think I was just being too nutty, and comparing ball joints to the trunion bearings on my Land Cruiser. It now seems to me like they will work in fine (although I still am a little surprised on the side-to-side steering forces required to turn the uprights). * * *

I should note that Land Cruisers have trunion bearings on the top/bottom of the knuckles. Those would certainly (when set up properly) require less force to turn that ball joints.

All the Maserati Source parts are sealed, but it is easy to drill them and add grease fittings. And yes, I have made sure the fittings are not in too deep, interfering with the ball motion.

JFB - To answer your question, the distance from the center of the steering arm hole to the upright center of rotation is 115 mm (4 1/2")

Rocky