Upper castle nut gone!!!

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Dec 20, 2012 | 01:39 PM

ROBBINthaHOOD

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From: Center, Texas

Upper castle nut gone!!!

After driving the Ex this morning to take the kiddos to school I noticed it was slightly pulling to the right. Decided to jack it up to check for slack since Ive had the clunking noise and I had ALOT of upper play back and forth so removed the wheel and the castle nut and most the threaded stem part were gone, but ball joint looks to be seated still so wonder if during the wreck a few months back that it might have cracked it but the initial line up we had didnt catch it and then driving it almost daily stressed it enough to break on off. Anyway looks like I get to take the day off to replace the upper joint, thinking maybe should replace lower also but it looks to be in good shape.

Dec 20, 2012 | 02:25 PM

EXv10

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From: Mt. Shasta California

I wouldn't touch the lower one.

I had my lower joints done a while back and they left 2 of the 4 bolts out of the knuckle to hub (4wd) which I didn't see until a year later plus they wanted $25 more for replacing some 50 cent clips in the pads and then didn't give me a receipt..............didn't go for any of it and too late on the bolts to say anything since they were 1000 miles away.

Dec 20, 2012 | 02:31 PM

ROBBINthaHOOD

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From: Center, Texas

I think I will just stick with the upper, from the looks of it appears to be easier to change. Got a choice between napa, autozone and oreilly for parts locally.

Dec 20, 2012 | 03:29 PM

ROBBINthaHOOD

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From: Center, Texas

Upon further inspection it appears the ball joint is fine but the camber/caster adjustment bushing is gone.

Dec 20, 2012 | 05:39 PM

ROBBINthaHOOD

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From: Center, Texas

Did not know which degree bushing to get so went with the 1 degree, got it set in and clamped down, Ex is tracking straight again with no front end clunk. Ill have to take it in to get the alignment checked again since I know I dont have it spot on and may have to replace the bushing with a different one but atleast we are now safe again.

Dec 20, 2012 | 06:30 PM

Tom

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From: Isanti, MN

While I see Brent's point I don't agree. Balljoints aren't uncommon parts to fail, and if I'm going through the effort and expense to replace the upper I would also do the lower. Remember that you have to replace some of the seals in the knuckle to do this job, so why go through the expense again when you could do both with just a few more minutes?

I would also recommend a quality name brand part rather than a parts store brand.

www.rockauto.com FTW!

Dec 20, 2012 | 10:14 PM

EXv10

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From: Mt. Shasta California

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy001

www.rockauto.com FTW!

It gets back to my motto, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I learned when I was a mechanic you are actually better off NOT fixing things that don't really need it. The less you touch to better off you are and other mechanics share the same feeling. It is a lot harder to replace the bottom at the same time...........not needed. I see so much unnecessary fixing and money spending in here and I don't know whether to laugh or cringe.