Top Ball Joint Fitting Problem

[timandchris]

Struggling with the front suspension upright connection into the ball joint.

The bottom connection seems ok on both sides although trying to get a torque wrench to the nuts seems impossible, but my real problem is the top ball joint which in each case comes with a metal lock nut that seems to want to lock on the last thread once this happens the threaded descending part of the ball joint just seems to rotate, and even putting pressure on the top doesn't help.

Anyone else come across this and have an answer.

Many thanks

Tim and Chris

www.westfield-kitcar.blogspot.com

[pgh]

you need to find a way to get the taper on the top ball joint to bind up with the upright. I used a sash cramp between the top and bottom ball joint. I've heard of others using a mallet (bash the joint into place until it doesn't move), rope and something about a trolley jack...

Paul

[Ted]

Some useful hints here

Ted

[Boomy]

I was lucky with mine as one did exactly as you say and one didn't.So i just screwed the nuts onto the one that wasn't spinning and then screwed one of them nuts back onto the one that was spinning.This was under the assumption it may 'break in' the nut a bit.

It worked for me anyway as it went on after that even though it may of been defeating the object a bit regarding what such nuts are about

[geelhoed]

instead of 1000 words:

[Steve20]

On mine I  used a plain nut to pull the taper into the socket, then a mate used a 3 foot long steel bar (old steering column inner) (with a couple of bits of wood to protect both the top chassis rail and the ball joint) to maintain pressure on the joint whilst I changed the plain nut for the locking one.

Took 10 mins per side.

[neilwillis]

Put the wheels on, lower the car to the ground, get a mate to stand on the chassis, tighten the nuts.

[timandchris]

Thanks to everyone, we will give it a go tomorrow.

Tim and Chris