no cotterpin on balljoints.....

[richardkeith97]

so i did my outer balljoints the other day and its the first ones i've ever done without a cotter pin. i tightened them as much as i could. when i turn the steering wheel to the left or right it turns the nut and actually unloosens it. the nut turns and not the stud. should i drive around a little and tighten them? this just seems really unsafe. has anyone else had a problem like this?

[Quadrajet]

Did you have the car supported on stands, then have your jack under the balljoint pushing the stud upwards then tightened the nut?

[jlevie]

For some reason the tapered shaft of the ball joint isn't seating in the steering knuckle. That could be as a result of the nut not being tight enough, or it could be that you have the wrong ball joints. If the jack trick and tightening the nut doesn't lock the ball joint shaft to the knuckle, I'd say the ball joints are wrong.

[richardkeith97]

ya i did that. i know exactly what you mean. the nut is as tight as it will go. i tightened it with a half inch breaker bar and the stud isn't turning when i tighten it. the balljoint is the stiffest balljoint i've ever done so i thought this would happen even before it happened.

[richardkeith97]

if i've got the wrong balljoints thats going to really piss me off. i did both sides and they were a bitch to press in.

[richardkeith97]

so the stud and the nut is supposed to turn when i turn the steering wheel??

[qbuilt]

No, The stud and nut should not turn! The balljoint is supposed the swivel when the steering wheel is turned.
Something is wrong. Did you make sure the tapered hole in the steering knuckle was clean and had no oil or grease in it. That has to be dry! Also the new balljoint stud need to be clean and dry as well. There should be a Torx female opening at the top of the balljoint stud. After ensuring everything is clean, dry, not greasy, try holding the nut with a wrench and tightening turning the stud with a torx bit.

[jlevie]

I'm betting on incorrect ball joints and thus the wrong taper. Next time, don't go so cheap and replace the control arms instead of futzing with the ball joints.

[ck_taft325is]

I'm betting on incorrect ball joints and thus the wrong taper. Next time, don't go so cheap and replace the control arms instead of futzing with the ball joints.

Hate to say it, but I agree. I tried to save a pair of crap ball joints on my last CA's. Wasted my time and frankly my money. It's worth the (what?, $125.00 or so?) for new CA's.

[ieatpeople]

i just went and bought new control arms rather than mess with the ball joints.

but the po of my car hit something hard/large enough to bend the power steering pump bracket, so i figured they were worth it.

[Wh33lhop]

so the stud and the nut is supposed to turn when i turn the steering wheel??

What do you mean by turn?

The stud and the nut should stay still relative to the steering knuckle.

The stud and the nut should turn relative to the control arm.