Lower Ball Joint Castle But Keeps Spinning

[Mishakol129]

Hey again. I am trying to remove the axles for an engine removal and as I go to take the castle nut off which holds the ball joint in place, all it wants to do is spin and spin and spin. I put pb blaster on it, used a breaker bar, used a jack and vice grips, but nothing happened. I also cut off the rubber part of the joint.

I need help now, I don't know exactly what I should do.

Everything was running smooth until this, this is like running into a wall.


Thanks


EDIT: Oops, my bad on the typo

[oyajicool]

Tapered part of that joint is supposed be locked in place by friction till you separate the two. Yours is just spinning because it is not locked. See if you can re-engage that part by using C-clamp and deep socket?

If you have access to compressed air and impact wrench, it will be a snap.

Or, the threads are busted and just spinning. In such case, you'd have to cut/grind the nut.

[N9netwoAccord]

If you have a large pair of channel locks squeeze the ball joint down into its seat while trying to tighten it, if that does work just up the lower control arm, and use a pry bar on the upper control arm to force the ball joint down into it's seat while tightening.

[Mishakol129]

If you have a large pair of channel locks squeeze the ball joint down into its seat while trying to tighten it, if that does work just up the lower control arm, and use a pry bar on the upper control arm to force the ball joint down into it's seat while tightening.

What's happening is the castle nut is still spinning, becoming tighter and looser, seeming as though its going to come off, but then it tightens back up again and doesn't move a single millimeter off the bolt. This happens as I try to loosen it. But the strangest thing of all is that when all this is happening, the bolt which the castle nut is attached doesn't turn AT ALL when the castle nut is turned. I know that the bolt doesn't move because I can see the hole which the cotter pin used to go in is in the exact same position after I move the nut.

This must mean that the threads on the bolt have rusted out and that is why I can move the castle nut without moving the bolt. So I am actually not moving the ball joint I am moving only the nut.... it cannot grab onto the rusted bolt.


What do I do now?

[cb7attack66]

stripped out nut..... get new nut and prolly ball joint

well, new nut will come with new ball joint

[Mishakol129]

stripped out nut..... get new nut and prolly ball joint

How do I remove the ball joint without taking off that castle nut?

[cb7attack66]

the ball joint is pretty strong . i cant see them threads stripping.probably just nut is stripped.. i work at scrap yard and probably run into this almost every day!!

if you have an impact use that followed by a wrench..small enough wrench to fit aroung stud .with wrench force down on nut as your spinning it.

[Mishakol129]

if you have an impact use that followed by a wrench..small enough wrench to fit aroung stud .with wrench force down on nut as your spinning it.

Don't have an impact. It would be better if I could do it without one. Plus I am not certain that an impact wrench could do it, a week ago I bought a 75$ electric one that couldn't even take off my axle nut. Ended up taking it back.

[cb7attack66]

you can do it without one it will just require more effort...i got the snap-on impact,man do i love that thing..makes life easier...

[Mishakol129]

you can do it without one it will just require more effort...i got the snap-on impact,man do i love that thing..makes life easier...

That's cool, good for you... But how do I take off the ball joint without an impact?

[cb7attack66]

same idea with a ratchet and socket with the wrench and spin the nut while forcing down on nut with wrench if that doesnt help then your next option is a nut breaker , or somehow cut the nut without cutting ball joint stud
didnt mean to glout

[Mishakol129]

same idea with a ratchet and socket with the wrench and spin the nut while forcing down on nut with wrench if that doesnt help then your next option is a nut breaker , or somehow cut the nut without cutting ball joint stud
didnt mean to glout

Pushing down on the nut is difficult because of gravity but I will try.

Nut splitter... okay, will try that if this don't work.

[Mishakol129]

Still nothing. I don't think the nut splitter would do much good because the nut has a special flange on it.

Anyone else have any ideas? I will give pics if that helps.

Maybe a torch would make it come off?

EDIT:

Maybe the nut splitter will work, I just don't know how to use it. Will I have to cut the nut on both sides to get it off?
Also, does anybody know what I am talking about when I say "flange" on the nut? It looks like this:

[cb7attack66]

thats pretty much all the options you have besides cutting.... good luck

[deevergote]

If the threads are stripped, or the ball joint is spinning internally... it's done. Replace it.
I just replaced my rear upper control arms for the same reason.