Techs,

I have Honda Accord 1994 EX AT with ABS. I have replaced both left/right Upper Control Arm along with Upper Ball joints almost 4 months back.

From last 2 weeks Driver side is making weird noises while rotating steering anti-clock wise and ABS light comes Intermittently.

Today I looked at it and saw that Upper Balljoint nut looks loose while trying to take out the cotter Pin, I broke cotter pin.

Now pieces of cotter Pins are still there in the Nut, can anyone please help and advise a way to take out Broken pieces of cotter Pin also could weird noises be related to Loose Nut???

Please see highlighted areas in the image, all the help, advises and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

FS

 

I spray a little WD-40 and then take another cotter pin and use it to push out the piece stuck in the ball joint stud. If it's really stuck, I get a small nail and do the same thing.

 

Thanks for your reply, is it safe to drive for a week or so with Broken pieces of Cotter pin sitting in the stud?

Please advise

 

Use an impact gun to remove the nut and drill out the cotter pin remnants. Fast and easy.

 

Targa-

I cannot get hold of the nut as cotter pin has very hard edges from the point where it broke.

So I need to remove remnants first and then tighten up the nut to get rid of weird noises.

Kinda of stuck how to get rid of Broken parts of cotter pin

 

I'm not understanding.

If the cotter pin hasn't broken off flush with the nut, then use a tool (pliers, pick, etc.) to pull it out.

If the cotter pin has broken off flush with the nut, use an impact gun to remove the nut. Any decent 1/2" pneumatic impact gun will be able to remove the nut whether the pin is still in there or not. Drill the remnants of the pin out of the hole in the ball joint stud once the nut is off.

If the cotter pin has not broken off flush but has not left enough material to grasp with a tool, then grind it down flush so that you can fit a socket onto the nut and use an impact gun.

 

Nut is fine but there is not enough cotter pin left that I can grasp and pull with a plier.

Also is it safe to drive for a week or so like this??

I can paste the pictures to get expert opinion.

Please help!

 

Define "nut is loose" because it sounds an awful lot to me that what you're describing is a seized ball joint where the tapered stud is turning in the knuckle. Replace it before it breaks and you go into a pole/guard rail/oncoming traffic.

 

Thanks for your reply, but I just replaced the whole Upper Control arm along with Upper ball joint how can the ball joint is seized???


Please advise-

 

How long ago is "just replaced" I've seen lots of cheap aftermarket ball joints go bad in 6 months.

 

I replaced it in Aug of this year but they are ebay made, is there a way I can make sure that Ball joint is fine???

Also there is no possibility that stud is loose that's why giving weird noises while turning Steering anti-clockwise???

Many Thanks in advance for your help

 

Separate the ball joint from the knuckle, move the stud around, it should be somewhat stiff, but it shouldn't catch or bind, there also shouldn't be any play in and out. Honestly if it an ebay ball joint i'd replace it either way with OEM honda, or Sankie/555.

Generally if the stud is turning the ball joint has seized. Its not like the nut can back off with the cotter pin in place and become loose.