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Who else hates lower ball joints???

colbystephens

colbystephens

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ok, what do i do?

installed new ball joints on my truck, but i can't torque the lowers to the proper 50 lbs or whatever it is b/c once i get any decent amount of grab on the threads, the ball just spins in the socket. what do i do? how do i hold the socket still while turning the nut?
 
Tominator II said:
Try using a floor jack under it lifting the vehicle with the knuckle then tightening it.
Click to expand...
Exactly.

But here's a dilemma (sp): what if the axle is on a bench instead of under a truck? :crazy:
 
d44, that adjusting sleeve is only in the upper ball joint. somehow you need to clamp the knuckle down to the balljoint. couple c-clamps, a couple pieces of wood/steel and some creativity will do. I only do balljoints on vehicles now, because this step is a huge pita.
 
i have the adjusting socket - i'm just talking about the lowers. i'll try the method with the jack tomorrow. :) thanks.
 
I recommend swapping it with a Dana 60. I hear it is almost impossible to get a kingpin to rotate:D .


J/K Trying to add some humor on my way to 5K:D

Ira
 
Real Trucks Don't Have Balljoints... hehe

Jack method works like a charm. Just don't be like my cousin and apply anti-sieze to the threads :doah:"But what about the next time it needs balljoints?" Me- "you got it apart this time didn't you??"
 
Hey Colby did you ever get them changed? I'm having the same problem, and my axle isn't in the truck. :doah: They're moog balljoints and have a slot in the top, for a large screwdriver or something, but I won't be able to use a torch wrench and hold them with a screwdriver... plus trying to hold a screwdriver in them and turn a wrench is pretty difficult... any suggestions?
 
Colby, I've had to use a "C-clamp" to hold pressure on the lower joint to keep it from spinning to torque it down. Works like a charm.
 
it's not the whole unit spinning in the knuckle, it's the ball spinning in the socket. i was able to get one pretty well tightened down using an impact wrench and some funky extensions and a ujoint. this didn't work for the other, it simply spun real fast. i'm not too sure what to do about it, because it's loose, and allows a bit of movement. however, the nut isn't coming off, but it's not right... i just don't know. i'm thinking about having someone tack weld a nut to the top of the stud and then use two wrenches to get it tightened down.
 
Don't used the impact. Thats what the impact is for, to overcome the friction. You want the friction. The way to get the friction is to load the blazer weight against a floor jack.:D
 
mr.smartass said:
Hey Colby did you ever get them changed? I'm having the same problem, and my axle isn't in the truck. :doah: They're moog balljoints and have a slot in the top, for a large screwdriver or something, but I won't be able to use a torch wrench and hold them with a screwdriver... plus trying to hold a screwdriver in them and turn a wrench is pretty difficult... any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Just did the joints on mine a few weeks ago. Use the screwdriver and a box end wrench and tighten em as far as you can, then put the torque wrench to them. I found that if you reefed them down as far as you could with the box end it was enough to keep the joint from spinning. Just make sure you don't have a bunch of grease on the top of the boot so it gets in the bolt pocket and turns easy.
 
tried the screw driver thing - had a buddy put all his weight on the screw driver to hold it in place, but the ball still wanted to turn.
 
Grab the bottom of the screwdriver with a pair of channel locks to keep it from spinning. I don't have a grip strong enough to hold it either.
 
i used my ball joint press to put pressure on the top ball joint. Make sure you do it so that the whole knuckle is forced into the axle end. After I figured that out everything went smooth...
 
W7NB said:
Grab the bottom of the screwdriver with a pair of channel locks to keep it from spinning. I don't have a grip strong enough to hold it either.
Click to expand...
tried that...
 
Dude i have allways had luck by taping the botom of the ball joint with a hammer to try and get it to "seat" itslef into the taper on the axel. If you need a hand let me know. I'll be around till noon tomorrow and all day sunday.
 
how would that prevent the ball and shank from spinning in the socket?
 
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