New Ball Joint install problem Need advise - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bill8333 · 05-27-2007, 02:35 PM

Hi Y'all. I have a 1972 1/2 4x4. I'm rebuilding the front end step by step. The problem I'm having is the nut on the new ball joint is spinning not the whole joint just the bolt on the stud so it's not tightening. Got any ideas.

I also need new spindals do we have a vendor that I can support with this purchase.

Thanks Bill

LONGHAIR · 05-27-2007, 08:37 PM

Ah, yeah.
I would be willing to bet that the one that is spinning the stud is the upper.
That is because there is an adjustment sleeve in the upper part of the axle housing to compensate for this. It has 4 slots that require a special socket to tighten this sleeve. It looks like a miniture version of the spindle nut socket.
You should be able to get one from your local NAPA or other auto parts store.

You partially tighten the lower ball-joint first (torque to 30#). Then tighten the sleeve down over the upper joint's taper, torquing to 50#. After that you install the upper nut and torque it to 100#. If it needs to move to align the cotter pin holes, you should tighten it more.....do not loosen the upper nut. After that final torque the lower nut to 70#.

bill8333 · 05-27-2007, 09:24 PM

Yep did all that but I can't get the new nut on the lower ball joint. If I use the old nut I can get it to tighten up but not the new nut.

Bill

LONGHAIR · 05-29-2007, 08:01 PM

Well, the lower nut is what they call a "Prevailing torque" nut. It is a crimped nut that acts as a lock-nut w/o the nylon insert that most of us think of as a lock-nut. This is because there is no space for the usual castle nut that we see on suspension/steering parts. Prevailing torque nuts are a "one-time only" part though, you are not supposed to re-use them.
You should be able to temporarily re-use it to get the taper of the lower ball-joint stuck though. Install the old nut, torque in down and then remove it. The new nut should then go on w/o the ball-joint turning on you. Be sure to clean the tapers of the hole and the stud before starting, it must seat solidly. If this still doesn't work...........I would suspect that there is something wrong with this ball-joint's stud. That taper should lock very hard, most poeple have trouble getting them apart, not with them spinning.

bill8333 · 05-31-2007, 12:32 AM

OK I'll try it tonight. I do have one more question. I was looking at it tonight and I can see the sleeve sticking out the bottom of the upper yoke. I followed the direction to a tee. It said to torque the sleeve too 50lbs ft and the castle nut to 100 lbs ft, so I was wondering if thats OK.

Bill

bill8333 · 05-31-2007, 01:18 AM

OK I took it apart and found rust powder from when I cleaned out the bottom ball joint. I think it's acting like graphite and allowing the ball joint to spin in the hole. I'm tired and will re assemble it in the morning and will post the results then.

Bill

bill8333 · 06-03-2007, 03:04 PM

Done. It was the rust acking like graphite. I used brake cleaner and a rag. After that I use a floor jack to push the yoke up and to hold it in place while I got the new nut on the bottom ball joint.

05-27-2007, 02:35 PM	#1
bill8333 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 89	Please read this: New Ball Joints installed Hi Y'all. I have a 1972 1/2 4x4. I'm rebuilding the front end step by step. The problem I'm having is the nut on the new ball joint is spinning not the whole joint just the bolt on the stud so it's not tightening. Got any ideas. I also need new spindals do we have a vendor that I can support with this purchase. Thanks Bill __________________ 1972 K-10 L/B 4x4 Matching #'s 350 4 speed from the factory. P/S P/B 1981 GMC 1/2 L/B 4x4 one owner truck. 4" lift 2004 Dodge Cummins Diesel 4x4 Q/C S/B 1986 Dodge D150 L/B 2WD Last edited by bill8333; 05-28-2007 at 03:56 PM.

05-27-2007, 08:37 PM	#2
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise Ah, yeah. I would be willing to bet that the one that is spinning the stud is the upper. That is because there is an adjustment sleeve in the upper part of the axle housing to compensate for this. It has 4 slots that require a special socket to tighten this sleeve. It looks like a miniture version of the spindle nut socket. You should be able to get one from your local NAPA or other auto parts store. You partially tighten the lower ball-joint first (torque to 30#). Then tighten the sleeve down over the upper joint's taper, torquing to 50#. After that you install the upper nut and torque it to 100#. If it needs to move to align the cotter pin holes, you should tighten it more.....do not loosen the upper nut. After that final torque the lower nut to 70#.

05-27-2007, 09:24 PM	#3
bill8333 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 89	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise Yep did all that but I can't get the new nut on the lower ball joint. If I use the old nut I can get it to tighten up but not the new nut. Bill __________________ 1972 K-10 L/B 4x4 Matching #'s 350 4 speed from the factory. P/S P/B 1981 GMC 1/2 L/B 4x4 one owner truck. 4" lift 2004 Dodge Cummins Diesel 4x4 Q/C S/B 1986 Dodge D150 L/B 2WD

05-29-2007, 08:01 PM	#4
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise Well, the lower nut is what they call a "Prevailing torque" nut. It is a crimped nut that acts as a lock-nut w/o the nylon insert that most of us think of as a lock-nut. This is because there is no space for the usual castle nut that we see on suspension/steering parts. Prevailing torque nuts are a "one-time only" part though, you are not supposed to re-use them. You should be able to temporarily re-use it to get the taper of the lower ball-joint stuck though. Install the old nut, torque in down and then remove it. The new nut should then go on w/o the ball-joint turning on you. Be sure to clean the tapers of the hole and the stud before starting, it must seat solidly. If this still doesn't work...........I would suspect that there is something wrong with this ball-joint's stud. That taper should lock very hard, most poeple have trouble getting them apart, not with them spinning.

05-31-2007, 12:32 AM	#5
bill8333 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 89	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise OK I'll try it tonight. I do have one more question. I was looking at it tonight and I can see the sleeve sticking out the bottom of the upper yoke. I followed the direction to a tee. It said to torque the sleeve too 50lbs ft and the castle nut to 100 lbs ft, so I was wondering if thats OK. Bill __________________ 1972 K-10 L/B 4x4 Matching #'s 350 4 speed from the factory. P/S P/B 1981 GMC 1/2 L/B 4x4 one owner truck. 4" lift 2004 Dodge Cummins Diesel 4x4 Q/C S/B 1986 Dodge D150 L/B 2WD

05-31-2007, 01:18 AM	#6
bill8333 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 89	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise OK I took it apart and found rust powder from when I cleaned out the bottom ball joint. I think it's acting like graphite and allowing the ball joint to spin in the hole. I'm tired and will re assemble it in the morning and will post the results then. Bill

06-03-2007, 03:04 PM	#7
bill8333 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 89	Re: New Ball Joint install problem Need advise Done. It was the rust acking like graphite. I used brake cleaner and a rag. After that I use a floor jack to push the yoke up and to hold it in place while I got the new nut on the bottom ball joint. __________________ 1972 K-10 L/B 4x4 Matching #'s 350 4 speed from the factory. P/S P/B 1981 GMC 1/2 L/B 4x4 one owner truck. 4" lift 2004 Dodge Cummins Diesel 4x4 Q/C S/B 1986 Dodge D150 L/B 2WD



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.