2001 f350 4x4 drw 80,000 miles

Did the passanger side ball joints and wheel bearing, hubs, rotors... no issues at all.

Doing the drivers side and lets just say I am going to bed and will look at this thread in the morning before I decide what to do.

While installing the ball joints on the drivers side I had some issues getting the bottom ball joint to torq to 35lbs but after a few tries (yes I did the jack stand trick) I was able to get it to what I thought was 35lbs. Did the top one, returned to the bottom one and all it does is spin. I have tried everything that has worked on past vehicles but this one simply will not torq down and now because it has a self locking nut on it (whose idea is that?) I cant get it to come off even.

Things I have tried

Take appart and reassemble (when I couldnt get it to torq at all the first few tries)
Jack stand
Ball joint press to try and seat the ball joint (I used the ball joint press with an open window adapter and pressed it while on the truck and used a wrench to try and bring the nut down)

The only option I have left is to cut the ball joint stud, remove it, and press in a new one. That is unless someone has an idea for me to try first.

Really only the bottom ball joints on each side were starting to go out, but I desided to replace everything with quality parts while I was in there.

only a stupid ball joint wont torq down

 

No ideas? TIme to cut it out

 

Would you mind sharing which brand ball joints you used? I'm making preparations to change mine out so I'm researching as much as time allows.

Thanks and good luck.

 

sounds like the ones i put in my brothers ranger. he got the cheap ones and the first 1 was to big to fit, the next 1 the stud was to tall and hit the axle, 3 time got it right. i think the stud is too small.

 

My bottom ones did this as well, all I did was give it a quick blast with a impact to set it then torque it to spec's.

 

Try taking the top ball joint back loose then put a floor jack underfur nuckle and put some pressure on it and it should hold. (note you may have to knock the camber budging loose to get it to hold) The best thing I can figure is when you tightned it to 35 it wasn't seated all the way and when you tightened the top one it may be holding the whole nuckle down. If I'm on track with what you said! Hope this helps!