Ball Joint bolt spins when trying to install!?!?!

[jdmjason]

Hey guys,

I finally picked up my new axle and everything was going fine until i tried to tighten the nuts for the ball joints on the control arms. How do you it? The bolt on the ball joint just keeps spinning when you try and tighten it. I'm goin crazy here.

Any help or tips would be appreciated.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Put a jack under it and apply pressure.

 

[ECTurboDSM]

Use a ratcheting wrench on the nut and then another tool to hold the top of the ball joint stud. Its been a while, but I think that is how I did it.

 

[dsmjay]

Put a jack under it and apply pressure.

thats how i did it. i just replace both lower control arms and i had to put a jack under it to apply pressure. much easier than trying to hold it with vise grips and racheting. also a rachet wrench wont fit in there...i tried

 

[Rx3]

Use 2x4s. Place one on top of the jack, and jack it to the bottom control arm/hub. Place one in the wheel well on top of the ball joint on the upper control arm. Compress the suspension in your vise as necessary. Tighten. This will go easier if you have an air ratchet or impact wrench that can spin the nut on with decent speed.

 

[SlowSpyder]

becareful not to damage the bottom of the ball joint. Crack the bottom of the ball joint and the grease starts to leak out and thats not good. Also if youve ever tried removing/intstalling the lower control arm youll know why you can use air tools

 

[steve]

Just appling some pressure to the lower control arm (not the ball joint) should keep the ball joint from turning. It's also a lot easier to tighten and torque the ball joint with the axle out of the hub.

Steve

 

[MaNGiNa24]

Just appling some pressure to the lower control arm (not the ball joint) should keep the ball joint from turning. It's also a lot easier to tighten and torque the ball joint with the axle out of the hub.

Steve

Thats how I did it. You don't want to kill the thing with the jack..