ball joint help?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Greenville Ohio
St. Jude Donor '05
ball joint help?
Finished with the passenger side (big brake upgrade, new ball joints, new bushings).
On the drivers side I cannot get the stud on the ball joint to screw on the nut. When ever I turn the nut the stud moves also. Suggestions?
Roger
On the drivers side I cannot get the stud on the ball joint to screw on the nut. When ever I turn the nut the stud moves also. Suggestions?
Roger
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
The threads are probably a little off on the castle nut. Get the correct size tap from an auto parts store; 14 x 2.0 mm and run it down the nut to clean-up the threads. It should go on finger tight until the ball joint is close to cinching up into the A-Arm and then tighten-up normally with a wrench.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Where did you get your ball joints and how much $$$ if you don't mind me asking. I was going to do this since I've got the front end apart but the local auto parts stores want like $80 per side for the uppers. OUCH! Found a whole bushing kit with the ball joints included online but after ordering it they told me the kit had been discountined.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From: Whittier ca
MidAmerica - Upper and lowers as a set of 4 - $129.00 (item 604-100). Go to AutoZone to rent/borrow the removal/installation tool, it make things a ton easier.
Here's the link to MA page
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.154.1124
Before you remove anything, make sure the new parts are the same. I didn't and had 1 wrong lower ball joint. MA made it right immediately, but I was down an extra 2 days.
The upper joints may not be as easy as it sounds. I had to drill out about 80% of the rivets before they would punch out. If that's the case for you, make sure you are aligned properly before drilling or you'll remove some of the a-frame.
Good luck
Subman
Here's the link to MA page
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.154.1124
Before you remove anything, make sure the new parts are the same. I didn't and had 1 wrong lower ball joint. MA made it right immediately, but I was down an extra 2 days.
The upper joints may not be as easy as it sounds. I had to drill out about 80% of the rivets before they would punch out. If that's the case for you, make sure you are aligned properly before drilling or you'll remove some of the a-frame.
Good luck
Subman
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
If you can get an impact wrench on it, try that, but DONT use it to put any measurable torque on there.
The impact wrench will spin the nut on without moving the ball joint.
The impact wrench will spin the nut on without moving the ball joint.
