Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

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.

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.

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.

Use an old non locking nut to seat the taper. Then install the lock nut.

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.

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

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!

Try purple neck torque on the non locking nut.

Rob,

What is "purple neck torque?" Googled it but it does not turn up.

Jay

I suggest that purple neck torque is rather tight!

Richard Hawkins

I get it now. Just a little slow. Very funny!