Can not tighten upper ball joint

[Sacha Rosenthal]

I’m installing the Vanco big brake kit and got one side on without too many issues.

The other side, however is causing me some problems. When installing the new knuckle, I cannot tighten the upper ball joint. The bolt keeps spinning and I now cannot loosen it either.

I’ve tried floor jack, pry bar etc but it’s on just tight enough that I cannot tighten further or now loosen it.

I can see the cotter pin hole through the castellated nut, but do not think it is on tight enough. The bottom went on without issue.

Ideas?

Thanks!


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[Jerry Bransford]

You're applying upper force to the knuckle itself while you are trying to tighten the ball joint nut?

If so, you might try first tightening it with a standard (thinner) nut to draw the stud down tight into the new knuckle while preventing the stud from rotating with a small diameter pin punch etc. through the cotter key hole. Then remove that nut and replace it with the castle nut.

 

[Sacha Rosenthal]

Thanks Jerry.

Lobbed a call into Blaine and he also provided some good info. Helped me refocus as I was beginning to lose my rag!

I ended up hammering a very small flat head between nut and top of knuckle, got a little gap, then got a larger flat head, then finally a pry bar and gave it some English to set it (pushing hard down against the nut and up against the knuckle). Seemed to do the trick. Phew!


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[Jerry Bransford]

Good solution, it seems so obvious now lol. I had the same problem but kinda forget exactly how I solved it.

 

[Sacha Rosenthal]

Wish I’d thought of jamming something in the cotter pin hole. Great idea. Perhaps next time ;-)


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