These balljoints are pissing me off.

Today I went to install my drive axles today and I got them in but when I went to tighten everything together, trouble starts...

When I attempt to tighten a nut to a balljoint stud... the balljoint stud spins with the nut and cant tighten the nut down. This is happening on the driverside upper control arm at the very top, and the passenger side where the 2 ball joints bolt to the spindle at the bottom. The threads are alittle bit messed up at the top, but if I can just get the nut past the first couple threads, I'm good.

Any advice? I'm getting pissed and I'm about to start throwing tools across the yard. I'm soooo close now. Motor is screaming at me to finish this damn thing. Car has been on jackstands since early September for rebuild. I'm dying to get it on the road tonight or tomarrow!

put the ball joints in where they are supposed to bo then let the car down or jack up the control arm. that will press them in a little and you should be able to put the nut on. try puttin it on with the jack putting the weight of the car on the control arm... you should be good to go.

edit: just noticed its the upper ball joint... not sure how thats gonna work. youll need to find something to put between the upper control arm and the fender to get it to put any weight on the control arm... try that... dunno

i jus jacked up on the braking assembly so the suspension was all up in the wheel well...everything went together according to plan...as for the bolts, jus get new ones...or if you jus wanna fix the threads, you could get a small-ish file and file off the top threads so the nut goes right over them...i don't suggest that, but you could give it a try :shrug

hmmm... I'll try that tomarrow.

Thanks, i'll let you guys know how everything goes.

If the ball joint stud is turning by hand or with very little force then it is out of specs and should be replaced. I had to do mine for that reason.

Originally posted by RickyMeeses
If the ball joint stud is turning by hand or with very little force then it is out of specs and should be replaced. I had to do mine for that reason.

yep me too