i rebuilt the front end on my 6 cyl. and the ford shop manual indicates 60-90lbs for upper and lower ball joint to spindle torque. then it has a footnote indicating 17-25 lbs (after backing off the castle nut to align cotter pin hole)

what is the proper torque (torque sequence) for ball joint to spindles?

thanks!

 

Both...what they are saying is to seat them first and if the cotter pin doesn't line up to fit, back off enough to fit, but with at least the lower limit. Shoot for something in between, but towards the upper end.