I replaced my passenger side axle today but when I went to put it all back together i noticed that the threads on the lower ball joint for the castle nut are stripped and just keeps turning when i try to tighten the castle nut. What are my options? I'm kind of confused. If I replace the lower ball joint...is it pressed in there or will I be able to get it out? Please help!! I appreciate it.

 

Same **** has happened to me, its annoying.

Your gonna have to take the arm off and have a new ball joint packed at a garage.

 

You can remove and install it with a ball joint presser. It is pretty much a giant c-clamp with different size sockets to make space to push out the lower ball joint.

 

did you try to rethead it with a tap and die set?

 

Happens to me every once in awhile.. Get snap ring off, and get a hammer and beat it out and hit in back in and put the snap ring back on. No need to take the hub off or anything.

 

x2, i would give this a try ^

 

i did the same thing and took off the snap ring and beat it out with a hammer and back in with a hammer.. takes a hr proly prety easy job....

 

if the nut is just spinning, try jacking up the arm to put pressure on the balljoint, but if the threads are F*cked, then that wont work

 

I read that the thread size is 12 x 1.25 but I couldn't find that size around town.

What clamp are you guys talking about.. so are you saying that I need to beat the lower ball joint out with a hammer while still on the car? Or do I need to remove that whole arm?
any more info please?

 

ball joints are a ball in socket type joint there is nothing there to prevent the stud from turning, but as long as the threads arent to messed up, its not an issue...first did you hit the stud with a hammer trying to get it out? if you did, yes you are going to have to replace it. if no, then try placing another jack underneath the control arm and pressing it back into the spindle/hub hole. apply enough pressure to just begin to raise it off the stands. all that weight is holding the stud from turning, now you can either attempt to reinstall the nut, or if it is bugered up try to retap it. most of the time you can do this with a big pry bar, but from the sounds of things you probaly dont have one.

try that first and if it doesnt work, let us know and we will tell you how to replace a ball joint

 

what he said ^
That is what i did.