ball joint idea's

[srtthis]

ok so im having an issue installing the spindles back onto my car. the ball joint just spins when i try to tighten the nut down. ive tried to put a jack under it to tighten it down. issue is i dont have any weight on my car right now since the motor and trans are both in front of it. was thinking about stacking sand bags on my K member but that will kinda suck to do. since its high enough up in the air that its hard to get to. and low enough that getting them on the K memeber from the bottom will also not be that easy
another idea i was told was a tie down strap around the control arm attached to the coil over sping on each side. and compress the spring to push the ball joint in so i can tighten the nut down.

anyone else have an idea short of buying some $500 snap on ball joint tool

 

[HISSIN50]

Would it be possible to use people to weigh the front end down?

I would be wary of using any sort of strap to compress the suspension if your limbs or face will be near it. If something lets go.....................

 

[tiptopss]

need either an air or electric impact gun, hard to get with a wrench

 

[95Vert383AOD]

I personally screwed the nut down as far as it would go and used a vise grip to hold the exposed threads while tightening with an open end wrench. (I personally usually never like clamping on threads but it worked for me.)

 

[95Vert383AOD]

Or Tap the wrench with a hammer. The quick impacts may make it tighten before the ball spins.

 

[srtthis]

if i could get an impact on it i would for sure but there is no room for that. im going to try a few things this weekend

 

[TOOLOW91]

why cant you take the 2 bolts for the strut out and the tie rod end off to flip the spindle foward to gain access to the control arm with a jack supporting the control arm ?

 

[TOOLOW91]

I meant to say to gain access to the ball joint in the control arm

 

[NIKwoaC]

With a grinder or a file, cut a small notch in the top of the threaded "stud" and keep it from spinning with a screw driver. Like so:

View attachment 151294

 

[srtthis]

Nick... your a phuckin GENIOUS!

 

[NIKwoaC]

Nick... your a phuckin GENIOUS!

That's what I keep saying, but nobody listens!

 

[Rick 91GT]

With a grinder or a file, cut a small notch in the top of the threaded "stud" and keep it from spinning with a screw driver. Like so:

View attachment 151199

Ive done that for other things, good idea

 

[srtthis]

Ive done that for other things, good idea

the funny thing is ive done it for a bunch of stuff in the past. not sure why i didnt think of it this time.