Ball joint tightening

[Chris Broster]

Help!

 

just fitting wide track front set up with new top and bottom ball joints. 
have assembled on car but come to tighten to uprights and it’s jus spinning 

 

I’m sure there is a secret here… please share…

 

many thanks

 

chris
 

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

use a jack under the bottom wishbone to put some pressure on the joint.

 

[corsechris]

Or a ratchet strap round top & bottom wishbones to pull them together. Sometimes just hand pressure is enough to get sufficient friction into the taper seating so the nut will do up properly.

[Davemk1]

Grease the threads on the nut.

 

dave

[dvd8n]

Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had to use more than hand pressure to do a ball joint up.  There should be loads of friction from the tapers to stop things from spinning while tightening them up.

 

I've used the jack under the ball joint and ratchet strap tricks to loosen ball joints once things have gotten a bit old and crusty but never to tighten one.

 

I'd start by checking that the threads are ok and that the tapers are clean.

 

David