2G Lower lateral control arm ball joint?

[Module Unknown]

So I'm replacing the lower lateral control arm on my 2G (yes, I know it's a recall item, but it's been done before), and everything is back together for the most part. I'm stuck on the very last nut. The nut the sits atop the ball joint and attaches it to the knuckle. When I try and tighten it, all it does is spin the ball joint. How do I tighten this thing? I've tried using a jack to pre-load the suspension and see if that helped. Nope. Lowered the car to the ground and tried tightening it again. Nope. It still spins (with a little more effort).

I can't get an impact on it since there is absolutely no room. The boot from the cv joint on my axle sits directly above it leaving only a 1/2 inch of clearance; just enough to get an open end wrench in there.

This is retarded.

 

[tr5900]

when i did mine, I used aregular nut to tighten it up .I then removed that nut and used the origional nut that came with the control arm.

 

[Auto RS T]

When you are jacking up the suspension are you putting the wood/jack directly under the balljoint?

Make sure the jack is contacting the balljoint directly under the ball/stud. If this doesn't work I would replace the balljoint.

 

[Module Unknown]

When you are jacking up the suspension are you putting the wood/jack directly under the balljoint?

Make sure the jack is contacting the balljoint directly under the ball/stud. If this doesn't work I would replace the balljoint.

No. I didn't want to jack it u pfrom right there. Worried about breaking the rubber sealent stuff on the bottom. I had the jack like an inch to the side of it, between the balljoint and the bolt that hold the strut in place.

Anyway, I managed to get it on. I just ended up popping that end of the axle out so I could scoot it over enough to get the impact on that nut. All better now! It just wasn't as fun/simple as it should have been.

Thanks for the help though!