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Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726863 01/11/15 04:43 AM 01/11/15 04:43 AM
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 240 fredericksburg virginia M mopwrd340 enthusiast
mopwrd340 enthusiast M Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 240 fredericksburg virginia	It looks like the top of the stud is bent like someone hit it with a hammer.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726864 01/11/15 04:44 AM 01/11/15 04:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 18,678 Fresno, CA Jim_Lusk I Live Here
Jim_Lusk I Live Here Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 18,678 Fresno, CA	They can be flattened for two reasons. One because they are shorter (that's ok in that area). The other is that they are crushed (not ok). Clean the threads and try again...

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: Jim_Lusk] #1726865 01/11/15 09:02 AM 01/11/15 09:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 45 Delaware G GeorgeH member
GeorgeH member G Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 45 Delaware	I agree with the above statements, the threads as they near the cotter pin hole don't look proper. Also looks like the top has been worked with a file or smacked pretty hard. Take the 2 bolts for the spindle out and drop the ball joint back out to look at it. If it's been hit hard likely to deform because of the cotter pin hole. Also , your stuff dirty for reassembly, or are those filings?. A squirt from a can of brake clean will clean things up. A lower ball joint is not something to take a chance on. If it's questionable at all,get another one. As said the nut should thread all the way down by hand.How ypou going to hold it to run a die down it? Do not score up the tapered seat. Last edited by GeorgeH; 01/11/15 09:17 AM.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: GeorgeH] #1726866 01/11/15 11:06 AM 01/11/15 11:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 5,774 ohio R ruderunner master
ruderunner master R Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 5,774 ohio	Yep it's mushroomed on the end. Need a new ball joint. Since it's not a self locking nut you should be able to spin it all the way down with your fingers, then torque to spec and install the cotter pin.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: ruderunner] #1726867 01/11/15 11:15 AM 01/11/15 11:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,020 Andrews,In. U.S.of A. 6 67_Satellite super stock
67_Satellite super stock 6 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,020 Andrews,In. U.S.of A.	A thread file or die will save that part. The thread damage isn"t that bad but must be adressed.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: 67_Satellite] #1726868 01/11/15 12:08 PM 01/11/15 12:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,323 NY NY 3 340duster340 master
340duster340 master 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,323 NY NY	as mentioned above, i would just replace the part. well worth the $30 for the peace of mind, and lesson learned. in time you will learn the "touch"

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: JDMopar] #1726869 01/11/15 01:14 PM 01/11/15 01:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 9,654 Southern by Choice S Shoozy I have a foot fetish
Shoozy I have a foot fetish S Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 9,654 Southern by Choice	Quote: None of us knew how to do it the first time. At least you're trying and learning. This. JD nailed it. Old, tired, and sometimes broke down. Me, not my car...

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726870 01/11/15 01:41 PM 01/11/15 01:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,482 Lake Orion, MI goldduster318 pro stock
goldduster318 pro stock Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,482 Lake Orion, MI	Quote: It seems like the threads are flattened where the holes are for the cotter pins (hard to see in the picture). I'll ask my friend if he can bring a die next weekend. There's a Harbor Freight tools where you live. Pick up an SAE tap and die set (they are usually like $35). You'll use it a zillion times anyway. Then you can get more work done. You'll probably want to take the joint off the arm (hit what it goes through method, or a puller) to chase the threads. Everything will be fine. '70 Duster 470hp 340/T56 Magnum/8 3/4 3.23 Sure-Grip

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: goldduster318] #1726871 01/11/15 02:12 PM 01/11/15 02:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,100 Western Md. skicker "The Champ"
skicker "The Champ" Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,100 Western Md.	Muu Muu 1) Disassemble what you have done till the spindle can be moved to the workbench. 2) See if a file will clean up the threads so that you can spin the nut either by hand or with a small amount of resistance. If not replace the LBJ. 3) After you have it working or have replaced the LBJ, install the LBJ through the LCA. Make sure the slot for the cotter pin is facing front to back. 4) Put a small floor jack under the spindle so the taper is seated in the LCA and tighten it down and install the cotter pin. Access with a wrench and a rachet will be 10x better. 5) Install the UCA down over the spindle. Again, make sure the cotter pin slot goes front to rear and tighten. Aligning the cotter pin slots seems like extra work but if you ever have to fool with it again you'll be glad you did it. ...FAFO...

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: skicker] #1726872 01/11/15 02:23 PM 01/11/15 02:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward!
MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward! Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal	Lovely, exactly what I wanted to do, take apart half the entire front suspension just to fix a new part. I'll buy a tap and die set next weekend and work on it. Is there an "easy" way to unseat the LCA and UCA ball joints from the spindle without using a pickle fork? And for the record, I did not hammer or file these ball joints.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726873 01/11/15 02:40 PM 01/11/15 02:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada R RUNCHARGER I Live Here
RUNCHARGER I Live Here R Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada	The stud is bent, You can try chasing the threads but you risk cutting material from the threads on a key suspension part. I would just purchase a new balljoint, why compromise something so important. It's 10 minutes extra work to change it out, but now is the time to do it. Just put a centre punch in the middle of the top of the stud and give it a light tap with even a carpenters hammer, it will loosen it. Sheldon

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: RUNCHARGER] #1726874 01/11/15 02:56 PM 01/11/15 02:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,453 So Cal autoxcuda Too Many Posts
autoxcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,453 So Cal	Quote: The stud is bent, You can try chasing the threads but you risk cutting material from the threads on a key suspension part. I would just purchase a new balljoint, why compromise something so important. It's 10 minutes extra work to change it out, but now is the time to do it. Just put a centre punch in the middle of the top of the stud and give it a light tap with even a carpenters hammer, it will loosen it. Sheldon I can't see how you could for sure say it's bent from those pictures. I see a thread second from the top on the left side that looks a little dinged. He might be able to work the nut back and forth by hand to straighten that. BTW the threads near the cotter pin are commonly chamfered in a little. No big deal. And because he took the picture pure perpendicular to the cotter pin centerline, it looks like it's necked in there.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: autoxcuda] #1726875 01/11/15 03:14 PM 01/11/15 03:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,918 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,918 Grand Prairie,Texas	I takes a lot to bend a ball joint stud and that one doesn't look bent. But the threads need fixing to where you can run the nut down by hand and then tighten it with a wrench.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: stumpy] #1726876 01/11/15 03:18 PM 01/11/15 03:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward!
MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward! Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal	Quote: I takes a lot to bend a ball joint stud and that one doesn't look bent. But the threads need fixing to where you can run the nut down by hand and then tighten it with a wrench. I was just going to say, where is everyone seeing the bend because from that picture I don't see much of any a bend and I just took a quick look at it from under my car and it looks straight. I will agree that the threads look "smashed" by the cotter pins (not shown in the picture). The nut only went down about two full threads. I'll pull the LCA balljoint off, get a die, and try running the threads hopefully by or before next weekend.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726877 01/11/15 03:21 PM 01/11/15 03:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,453 So Cal autoxcuda Too Many Posts
autoxcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,453 So Cal	Quote: Quote: I takes a lot to bend a ball joint stud and that one doesn't look bent. But the threads need fixing to where you can run the nut down by hand and then tighten it with a wrench. I was just going to say, where is everyone seeing the bend because from that picture I don't see much of any a bend and I just took a quick look at it from under my car and it looks straight. I will agree that the threads look "smashed" by the cotter pins (not shown in the picture). The nut only went down about two full threads. I'll pull the LCA balljoint off, get a die, and try running the threads hopefully by or before next weekend. You shouldn't need to take it off to run the die on it. Just do it were it is.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726878 01/11/15 03:40 PM 01/11/15 03:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,482 Lake Orion, MI goldduster318 pro stock
goldduster318 pro stock Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,482 Lake Orion, MI	Quote: Lovely, exactly what I wanted to do, take apart half the entire front suspension just to fix a new part. I'll buy a tap and die set next weekend and work on it. Is there an "easy" way to unseat the LCA and UCA ball joints from the spindle without using a pickle fork? And for the record, I did not hammer or file these ball joints. Tie rod puller. I have a cheapo one that's kinda narrow so I may have used a pitman arm puller on the upper one. Usually comes right out. '70 Duster 470hp 340/T56 Magnum/8 3/4 3.23 Sure-Grip

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726879 01/11/15 03:57 PM 01/11/15 03:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,702 North Dakota 6PakBee I Live Here
6PakBee I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,702 North Dakota	Quote: Lovely, exactly what I wanted to do, take apart half the entire front suspension just to fix a new part. I'll buy a tap and die set next weekend and work on it. Is there an "easy" way to unseat the LCA and UCA ball joints from the spindle without using a pickle fork? And for the record, I did not hammer or file these ball joints. If the stud is spinning in the LCA, the ball joint isn't set. Back off the torsion bar completely, jack the LCA up and the ball joint should just drop out. Then you can remove the lower ball joint, stick it in your vise, and work on it without fighting anything. "We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: MuuMuu101] #1726880 01/11/15 04:00 PM 01/11/15 04:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA OzHemi Penguin-hating Ginger
OzHemi Penguin-hating Ginger Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA	I might have a die around...what thread is it?

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: OzHemi] #1726881 01/11/15 04:02 PM 01/11/15 04:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward!
MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward! Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal	Quote: I might have a die around...what thread is it? No idea... I don't have a thread gauge.

Re: Am I Doing Something Wrong? LCA Balljoint Issue... [Re: 6PakBee] #1726882 01/11/15 04:03 PM 01/11/15 04:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward!
MuuMuu101 OP I got lucky at Woodward! Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 12,375 SoCal	Quote: Quote: Lovely, exactly what I wanted to do, take apart half the entire front suspension just to fix a new part. I'll buy a tap and die set next weekend and work on it. Is there an "easy" way to unseat the LCA and UCA ball joints from the spindle without using a pickle fork? And for the record, I did not hammer or file these ball joints. If the stud is spinning in the LCA, the ball joint isn't set. Back off the torsion bar completely, jack the LCA up and the ball joint should just drop out. Then you can remove the lower ball joint, stick it in your vise, and work on it without fighting anything. I already set the LCA in the ball joint to get the nut out and the Torsion bars are already backed off completely.

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