OblivionLord

I just installed a new OEM lower ball joint for my 98 civic ex. The rod on the ball joint appears to be slimmer at the bottom then gets thicker from the middle on up. When i put the castle nut on the joint it goes in only so far and then the rod turns along with every twist i make from that point.

I dont know of any way to prevent the rod from twisting unless i clamp the threads on the rod which is bad.

I rested the joint itself on my jack thinking that if i apply presure to it then it will be enough to keep it in place but that doesnt prevent it from turning while i twist the nut.

I honestly dont know what to do besides the final alternative to taking it to a shop and having them use an impact hammer on it.

Is the impact hammer a requirement when istalling this castle nut to this OEM ball bearing? Seems odd.

shogee

well if you have a pry bar have someone pry down the lower control arm while you tighten the nut

uberEFtuner

Perhaps you have the wrong castle nut.
Is the threaded part of the ball joint all the way through? If not jack up the lower control arm a bit.
Once the ball joint is seated into the hole it should be fine

Eli2

Yea I would try jacking up the lower control arm so that the full weight of the car is on the ball joint and then see if it still turns. Also yea you can use an impact gun on it however I wouldnt use it to get it tight, for that I would use a torque wrench.

OblivionLord

I have raised the LCA to the point where it starts raising the car and then i went under to try to tighten it and it still turns.

Vindicator9000

Both of these tricks I've used with success.

honda.lioness

Clean the ball joint shank and hole with brake cleaner. This gives maximum adhesion of same. It is often all that is needed.

Eli2

Have you used the impact on it after trying that method?
Hmmm next you can try jacking it up from the brake/lug nut side to put pressure on the nut but dont try this if the castle nut isnt on the pretty good or you'll pull the threads off the ball joint. Put the lug nuts back on to protect the threads and carefully jack it up using two of the studs, try and put the jack closest to the rotor and see if that helps.

Luserkid

I use the impact all the time tightening those (on a low setting of course) But before that I make sure they are both cleaned and not stripped and going on correctly. If your starting to go crooked and you hit it with the impact you gave yourself a hell of a job later.