Quote Originally Posted by project5k View Post
could the preloaded mean that they have the balls inside already, rather than just sending you an empty nut and some loose balls for you to put together?

my kit came with the ballnuts already on the screws, perhaps this is what was ment?

i know, just offering an alternative interpretation....
No, pre-load is a specific condition depending on the fit of the balls within the grooves of the screw. There are several ways it can be achieved. Pre-loaded A/C bearings don't mean that the balls are already in place in the raceways, it means that there is some initial force applied to the bearings before any loads are imposed upon them due to actual work done. Hence PRE load. The same thing applies with a ball nut(s).