Ball join trick - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

510-SR20DET · 03-09-2009, 01:28 AM

okay so i tried to install the 5lugs for my 180sx today. i took the bottom ball join out, and now i cant put it back in. The whole ball join keep spinning when i try to tighten down the nut. Do any of you know the trick to this to hold the ball join in place while i tighten down the nut?? i dont want to replace my ball join/nut.

Sileighty_85 · 03-09-2009, 05:24 AM

why did you take it out? are you using S14 hub assembly? if so you need to use an S14 balljoint.

here what i did to install mine

projectRDM · 03-09-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 510-SR20DET

okay so i tried to install the 5lugs for my 180sx today. i took the bottom ball join out, and now i cant put it back in. The whole ball join keep spinning when i try to tighten down the nut. Do any of you know the trick to this to hold the ball join in place while i tighten down the nut?? i dont want to replace my ball join/nut.

Threads are damaged. Take it off the spindle and chase the threads while holding the joint itself with a pair of pilers down below the threaded portion. Did you hit the joint itself to remove it? You may have even crowned it enough to be unusable.

druthafoo · 03-09-2009, 09:48 AM

I know you dont want to replace em... but theyre probably pudding by now anyways right? So it might be a good idea to replace em while you can, unless you dont have money :/.

Touge180sx · 03-09-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectRDM

Threads are damaged. Take it off the spindle and chase the threads while holding the joint itself with a pair of pilers down below the threaded portion. Did you hit the joint itself to remove it? You may have even crowned it enough to be unusable.

Not always the case, Sometimes they just wont fully tighten. If you can use air impact wrench or whatever, Dont over tighten it though. You can also use a prybar and apply pressure to the knuckle/spindle and this usually works also, But if the threads are damaged then you should just replace the ball joint.

initial_drifter · 03-09-2009, 10:22 AM

I forget if 240's had the allen hole on top of the bolt

The ball joint when pushed up will usually be enough clamping force to tighten it down.

If it still spins, it's more than likely that the joint itself is done

ps. why use something that'll need replacing again in the near future?

Marc240 · 03-09-2009, 10:26 AM

Why did you take the ball joint out? If your just swaping hubs all you needed to do was rotate the axle back and forth so you can fit the 17mm socket to loosen the 4 back bolts.

aznpoopy · 03-09-2009, 10:30 AM

the joint is done and needs to be replaced.

i had to rock a bad balljoint for a week so i went through this before. if you really want to get it on, force down the boot and get some vice grips on it under the nut while you tighten the top down with a ratchet. when you thread it down low enough move the vice grip to top side and finish tightening it with a wrench

but yeah, really you should just replace the balljoint.

03-09-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sileighty_85

too hard to use a press, eh?

jeez.

Bigsyke · 03-09-2009, 12:54 PM

The ball joint is good, you just need to place a jack underneath the ball joint and tighten. This happens every time to me.

510-SR20DET · 03-09-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc240

Why did you take the ball joint out? If your just swaping hubs all you needed to do was rotate the axle back and forth so you can fit the 17mm socket to loosen the 4 back bolts.

i had to cause i was installing the z32 e-brake also and i need to bang the 27mm bolt in place.

the ball join is good, not broken seal/boot, the thread is good also. just that this thing is 20years old and its hella sticky. you know how it is w/ old ass nut and bolt.

loveskylines · 03-09-2009, 02:31 PM

ball joints are overrated....u dont need them... just take it off and use it for a shift knob

510-SR20DET · 03-09-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveskylines

ball joints are overrated....u dont need them... just take it off and use it for a shift knob

Go do something useful in your life!

Anyway, i did it guys. What i did was i use the combo of jack and strut. I use the strut to compress it down while the jack compress it up. 2500 lbs of compression makes the ball join stay in place while i tighten the nut down.

Sileighty_85 · 03-09-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixfxi

too hard to use a press, eh?

jeez.

Haha I wish, didnt know where to find one at the time I had just moved to that town.

It was rainy and had no transportation , and just scrounged around the garage until i came up with this concoction, definatly ghetto but worked like a charm though hahaha

03-09-2009, 01:28 AM	#1
510-SR20DET Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: Aye Bay Bay Posts: 418 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Ball join trick okay so i tried to install the 5lugs for my 180sx today. i took the bottom ball join out, and now i cant put it back in. The whole ball join keep spinning when i try to tighten down the nut. Do any of you know the trick to this to hold the ball join in place while i tighten down the nut?? i dont want to replace my ball join/nut.

03-09-2009, 05:24 AM	#2
Sileighty_85 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Misawa, Japan Posts: 6,815 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	why did you take it out? are you using S14 hub assembly? if so you need to use an S14 balljoint. here what i did to install mine __________________ 後輪駆動車１番 1989 Built SR GT2871R -363whp 1998 S14 W/RB25- 250ish (For Now) 1986 SR86 - 200ish 1990 R32 GTR - 320hp Don't Buy Engines from JDM-Online http://zilvia.net/f/businesses/207457-jdm-online.html Don't Buy XS-Power or SSAC Shit

03-09-2009, 09:48 AM	#4
druthafoo Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: VIRGINIA Age: 38 Posts: 323 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	I know you dont want to replace em... but theyre probably pudding by now anyways right? So it might be a good idea to replace em while you can, unless you dont have money :/. __________________ *PM for Stereo Help* Eclipse55090CrystalSSCS6SIMAG

03-09-2009, 02:31 PM	#12
loveskylines Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CA Posts: 277 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ball joints are overrated....u dont need them... just take it off and use it for a shift knob __________________ No MORE S13!! SC300!!!

03-09-2009, 10:22 AM	#6
initial_drifter Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mill Creek Posts: 380 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I forget if 240's had the allen hole on top of the bolt The ball joint when pushed up will usually be enough clamping force to tighten it down. If it still spins, it's more than likely that the joint itself is done ps. why use something that'll need replacing again in the near future?

03-09-2009, 10:26 AM	#7
Marc240 Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 284 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Why did you take the ball joint out? If your just swaping hubs all you needed to do was rotate the axle back and forth so you can fit the 17mm socket to loosen the 4 back bolts.

03-09-2009, 10:30 AM	#8
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	the joint is done and needs to be replaced. i had to rock a bad balljoint for a week so i went through this before. if you really want to get it on, force down the boot and get some vice grips on it under the nut while you tighten the top down with a ratchet. when you thread it down low enough move the vice grip to top side and finish tightening it with a wrench but yeah, really you should just replace the balljoint.

03-09-2009, 12:54 PM	#10
Bigsyke Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NA Age: 40 Posts: 1,342 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The ball joint is good, you just need to place a jack underneath the ball joint and tighten. This happens every time to me.