Help needed installing ball joints.
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Happy New Year everyone!
I m installing new ball joints but I am running into a problem with tightening down on the nut securing the ball joint to the vertical link. When the nut gets to the nylon lock-threads, it just turns the bolt around and around. It does not seem to get purchase on the taper.
Any suggestions?
Jay S.
I m installing new ball joints but I am running into a problem with tightening down on the nut securing the ball joint to the vertical link. When the nut gets to the nylon lock-threads, it just turns the bolt around and around. It does not seem to get purchase on the taper.
Any suggestions?
Jay S.
Jay S.
1972 Federal Sprint, Colorado Orange/White
2005 Elise, sold
1988 Evante 140TC, sold
1972 Federal Sprint, Colorado Orange/White
2005 Elise, sold
1988 Evante 140TC, sold
- Evante
- Second Gear
- Posts: 168
- Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Jack up the wishbone/vertical link, this will then put pressure on the taper forcing it into its seat. The nut can usually be tightened then.
Brian
64 S2 Roadster
72 Sprint FHC
64 S2 Roadster
72 Sprint FHC
-
types26/36 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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As mentioned you just need to get the taper seated and you'll be able to do it up ok. Normally it's reusing old but sound ball joints where this is an issue. The new ones I fitted back in the spring had enough internal friction to survive the nyloc insert without turning.
Stuart Holding
Thame UK / Alpe D'Huez France
69 S4 FHC
Honda GoldWing 1800
Honda CBX1000
Kawasaki H1 500
Yamaha XS2
Thame UK / Alpe D'Huez France
69 S4 FHC
Honda GoldWing 1800
Honda CBX1000
Kawasaki H1 500
Yamaha XS2
- 69S4
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: 23 Sep 2004
Use an old non locking nut to seat the taper. Then install the lock nut.
Rob Walker
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
- prezoom
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1178
- Joined: 16 Mar 2009
prezoom wrote:Use an old non locking nut to seat the taper. Then install the lock nut.
+1
Works for me every time.
I also put a very slight smear of anti seize on the taper, as I'm usually the next one to take things apart.
Steve
Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow
Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
Elan S1 1963-Bourne bodied
Elan S3 1967 FHC pre airflow
Formerly:
Elan S1 1964
Elan S3 1966 FHC pre airflow
Elan S3 1967 FHC airflow
Elan S4 1969 FHC
Europa S2 1970
Esprit S2 1979
- bitsobrits
- Third Gear
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- Joined: 27 Apr 2011
I tried the non-nylon nut to seat the cone but that did not work. I might not have tightened it as much as I should have but when I took the nut off, the stud came out easily.
Jay S.
BTW,
Here is a nifty tool to remove the ball joint if the hammer method does not work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcCfWmrVQfM
Jay S.
BTW,
Here is a nifty tool to remove the ball joint if the hammer method does not work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcCfWmrVQfM
Jay S.
1972 Federal Sprint, Colorado Orange/White
2005 Elise, sold
1988 Evante 140TC, sold
1972 Federal Sprint, Colorado Orange/White
2005 Elise, sold
1988 Evante 140TC, sold
- Evante
- Second Gear
- Posts: 168
- Joined: 01 Jun 2004
If the non nylok nut trick did not work I?d be concerned about the quality of the new ball joint, is the taper machined to the correct angle. Maybe want to check using engineers blue to see where it is making contact on the taper in the upright? If not making full contact then you need to see which is the problem the ball joint or the upright, I usually go for the bit I?ve just changed as being the most probable cause of problems. Not all after market parts are created equal to the originals!
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine!
- Bigbaldybloke
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 889
- Joined: 16 May 2017
Try purple neck torque on the non locking nut.
Rob Walker
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
- prezoom
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1178
- Joined: 16 Mar 2009
I suggest that purple neck torque is rather tight!
Richard Hawkins
Richard Hawkins
- RichardHawkins
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