Help with Lower Ball Joints
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, Texas
Help with Lower Ball Joints
I replaced my ball joints by myself for the first time this weekend. I usually have this done by a mechanic, but figured I'd give it a shot this time. I found out that I was missing the plastic thrust washer on one side, and two of the outer thrust washers on the other side. And I also had a bad hub lock, so I got a set of Warn locks. I had enough thrust washers to finish one side, now I'm waiting until the dealer opens tomorrow to get another set of thrust washers to finish the job, but I still have a concern:
I followed some instructions online in doing this repair, and the instructions said to torque the lower ball joints to 150, but I couldn't keep the ball joints from spinning when tightening the nuts. I've got the nuts down the shaft far enough that there are a few threads showing above the nuts, but I don't think I'm anywhere close to 150. The instructions said that if this problem occurs to put pressure on the knuckle with a floor jack, so I did, but I still couldn't get 150. The nuts look tight to the knuckle, but I'm still concerned. Should I be concerned?
I followed some instructions online in doing this repair, and the instructions said to torque the lower ball joints to 150, but I couldn't keep the ball joints from spinning when tightening the nuts. I've got the nuts down the shaft far enough that there are a few threads showing above the nuts, but I don't think I'm anywhere close to 150. The instructions said that if this problem occurs to put pressure on the knuckle with a floor jack, so I did, but I still couldn't get 150. The nuts look tight to the knuckle, but I'm still concerned. Should I be concerned?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 3
From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
The jack should do the trick - just make sure you have put enough pressure on it. The pressure helps "seat" the tapered portion of the balljoint shaft into the hole on the axle. Mine turned when I did them - put the jack directly under the knuckle and keep going until most of the weight is bearing on the knuckle. Keep a jackstand underneath the axle when you can just wiggle the jackstand you should have enough pressure to keep it from turning. The 150 ftlbs is critical - too loose and the joints can pop, too tight and you'll have issues with the knuckles binding which causes the steering wheel to not "return" to center after a turn
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 2
From: Garden City, KS
I took a long pry bar and pushed on the knuckle so that it pressed the shaft of the ball joint against the inside of the hole... that held it tight enough to get the nut down. Not sure what I pried against, but it was something that allowed me to push the knuckle out away from the truck and press the shaft tight enough against the inside edge of the hole to get the nut down.
