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Replacing spindle. Is my balljoint broken?

Old Mar 19, 2007 | 01:43 PM
  #1  
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Replacing spindle. Is my balljoint broken?

I'm placing my passenger side spindle and cannot remove the biggest of the 3 balljoint bolts, the one on the lower A-arm. the tie-rod and upper A-arm bolts came off fine. The nut AND bolt just spin around with no way to hold the balljoint pin still. Any advice to get the balljoint to stop spinning so i can remove the bolt?
Old Mar 19, 2007 | 02:02 PM
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Might be time for a flame wrench.

If the ball joint stud won't stay still, there is little you can do but cut the nut off. You will likely want to replace that ball joint.
Old Mar 19, 2007 | 07:55 PM
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Spray it with PB Blaster and let it soak in. Also might try to tighten it first although it might also spin in that direction. Anther though would be to use an impact gun.
Old Mar 19, 2007 | 11:49 PM
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Impact generally wont fit, use a c-clamp to clamp the spindle to the control arm, tighten it as much as you can and shel'l come off.
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 05:11 AM
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Sounds like someone never fully tightened the lower balljoint nut. Your probably never gonna get it loose. I'd try jacking up that side with the jack under the balljoint and then trying to get it loose. If that dosen't work, cut it off.

Re'
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 06:28 PM
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The c-clamp method worked perfectly. I dont know how but it worked. thanks!
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Sick97SS
The c-clamp method worked perfectly. I dont know how but it worked. thanks!

2 other things I have done in the past....a nut splitter, or tap a pickle fork in there and it will hold the BJ tight. C-clamp thing works great


But i just use FIRE now
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by mdacton
2 other things I have done in the past....a nut splitter, or tap a pickle fork in there and it will hold the BJ tight. C-clamp thing works great


But i just use FIRE now
a pickle fork? do you mean a real honest to god food utensil or is this some weirdass tool i've never heard of?
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Sick97SS
The c-clamp method worked perfectly. I dont know how but it worked. thanks!
The C-clamp put friction on the ball joint and stopped it from spinning. I learned this trick when I went to put the nut back on my ball joint but the threads had gotten slightly marred, just barely but enough to make the joint spin. Thats why its better to grease your joints after you tighten down the nut, more friction == less spin.
Old Mar 20, 2007 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by LiENUS
a pickle fork? do you mean a real honest to god food utensil or is this some weirdass tool i've never heard of?
man with a name like Lienus and you never heard of a pickle fork?

You know what it is you probly just call it something else


Last edited by mdacton; Mar 20, 2007 at 07:27 PM.
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 06:30 PM
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i hate pickle forks, they just tear up boots
the c-clamp works great because the balljoint has a tapered stud and using the c-clamp to force the ball joint in deeper will wedge it in harder and provide more resistance

impact guns are wonderful

i usually use a hydraulic jack to raise the control arm to force the ball joint into the spindle if it starts spinning
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