Finishing New Suspension Install Lower Ball Joint Turning

[markpink]

Hi.

I am just finishing a suspension/front end overhaul on my 1977 124. I have replaced the upper and lower control arms on thee passenger side. The wheel bearings. Brakes and such. I bought the control arms that come with the ball joints already installed. I got two sets of the drivers side control arms by mistake(Not mine.... the vendor) I have to send the drivers side back and exchange them for the correct ones)

Things went ok, except for a 3 day war with the spring. But once I had the right coil spring compressor, ( I had rented two of the wrong kinds first) it went it in 10 minutes. This has been the most of I have done in repair of a car, and I seem to have survived.... and Now I have all these new tools... But I digress.

The lower ball joint spins when I try and tighten it. The upper one did the same thing until, I tighten the screws holding the upper ball joint. I can't tighten the bolts on the Lower Ball Joint any more. But the LBJ just spins and spins. I tried putting pressure on the bottom of it with a jack... I ready that in a post here someway and that did not work... Does anyone have any other tricks up their sleeves...? And I tried the to tighten the lower one before the upper was even attached and it still did the same thing..


thanks


Mark in NH

[manoa matt]

If you have the spring installed and the ball joint stud is engaged in the steering knuckle the spring should provide enough resistance to hold the stud while you tighten the main nut. If it keeps turning you can gently put a pickle fork around the shaft and then tighten the nut. If that doesn't work you can buy and assemble a series of carriage bolts and a coupling nut to put pressure on it. Here is a picture of the "tool" http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtimes_fiat/2976682356/

This is what I use to separate the ball joints from the steering knuckle so I don't damage the ball joints. It won't damage the ball joints like a pickle fork will. You may need to buy shorter or cut the length of the bolts to get it to fit into the space. Use one wench on the coupling nut and one on the square part of the carriage bolt just below the head.

[kristoj]

Mark will probably cringe, but I used an air ratchet to get it snug then tightened it down with the torque wrench.

[So Cal Mark]

cringe? I love air tools
To keep that ball joint stud from spinning you need to wedge it tighter into the steering knuckle. You could place a jack under the lower arm to put more pressure on it, or use a pry bar inbetween the knuckle and arm. An alternative would be to use the old locknut to pull the stud completely into the knuckle, then replace the old nut with the new nut. The locking effect of the old nut won't be as great, and may thread on without spinning the stud

[mbouse]

all great advice, and i cannot add to what has been stated.

i will however, take this opportunity to stop in and congratulate you! you own more tools! you remembered to use the RIGHT tools for the job. and you will soon complete a task that you never tried before.... i like that!

[Hutch]

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<------ Feverishly taking notes for when I do this in a few months. (Thanks guys!)

[TulsaSpider]

Yea I just ordered ball joints myself. Thanks for the heads up and knowledge as always!!

[TulsaSpider]

My ball joints came in today, upper and lower. I ordered from Bayless. There aren't any grease fittings on them and I find that curious should I inject some grease in there with a needle?

[pope]

No, those are greased already and sealed. Good to go.

[TulsaSpider]

Round one done. I borrowed the company truck so I could get my ball joints done and take my time while the weather is nice. I removed one side in about 2 hours. The hardest part so fair is the LBJ. I finally got that sucker broke loose. It's hard to get a wrench on that sucker! I'm all sore this morning LOL I measured my static height at 24 1/2" driver's side and 25 1/2" on the pass side at the top of the wheel well. We'll see what it is when I am done.

[So Cal Mark]

wow, at just over 24" your static height is low, how do you reach the pedals? How is the static height of the car?

[TulsaSpider]

LMAO! You got me Mark! I am really an elf! ^_^ I finished this project today and I am mostly happy with the results. The car's ride height lowered 2" on both sides. I cut 2 rings out of the front springs and installed new upper and lower ball joints. The car tracks much better!! I did hit one snag, on the last upper I installed the little wire that holds the rubber boot to the shaft came off. I wonder what I did wrong? Now I gotta figure out how to seal it again ...