I'm doing a ball joint job on my 92 F150 4WD. The lower ball joint nut is really a bugger. Finally got it to turn after a few applications of PB Blaster and a cheater bar. But, now, it appears that the whole ball joint is turning, instead of just the nut.

Any ideas/suggestions on what I can do now? Thanks, guys, in advance.

 

You've got to find a way to put pressure on the joint. I used a fork splitter, like the ones used on tie rods, and a bottle jack. I bought some crappy autozone ball joints for my F-250 beater and 1000 miles after installing them I realised the bottom was one was loose. I had the same situation. It's one of those things you've just got to work at and find what works. In the end, you've just got to find a way to put pressure on it.

 

OK, so if I'm reading you right, maybe I should use a bottle jack and the weight of the truck to try and hold it. Then, if it still spins when I try to loosen the nut, I should drive a pickle fork in between the joint and the knuckle. Right?

Thanks for the reply.

 

i used to use some large channel locks to do this. it takes two people sometimes so you can really hold the channel locks while someone spins the wrench.

 

Put weight of truck on joint as stated. If it still spins, retighten joint to seat stud. Clean threads, apply more solvent, back off nut. May take 2-3 trys.

 

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions. I should have made clear that I'm trying to get the old ball joint loose, as opposed to installing the new one.

Anyway, maybe using the bottle jack will be the trick.

Quicklook2, where did you hold the joint with the Channel Locks? Is there enough below the knuckle to get them on it? Or, were you assuming there was enough of the stud exposed below the nut to grip?

Thanks, again, everyone.

 

as everyone is trying to describe, you need to hold the pieces together. i did not do a f150, but many others. the ball is loose, the nut turns the ball not letting you remove nut, you need to put pressure so the ball does not turn, eithe r wedgeing something like a pickle fork or holding the pieces together tightly with large channel locks, not the small one, the big mothers sears sells.

 

Thanks, guys. The bottle jack did the trick!

Getting ready to do the passenger side now. Does anyone know whether or not the clamps on the passenger side axle boot are re-useable?

 

The little metal ones? I don't think so...but you can just replace them with zip ties or similar....that boot just keeps dirt out of the spline area underneath.

 

OK. That's great! Thanks.

All in all, this hasn't been too bad a job. Sure does help to have the right tools, though.

 

Yep....