So we're putting my teg back together (finally). I go to put on the steering ball joint nuts, and get about halfway up the ball joint "stud," and when it starts to get tighter, the ball joint breaks loose and starts spinning. Any help? I need my car back together by tomorrow night, so pleeease don't tell me I need new steering knuckles!!

 

Get someone to stand on top of the disc while you tighten it up.

 

well...the top doesn't look like it's spinning at all, or anything. How would standing on them help? I'm worried about this, don't want to have to buy new ones...

 

the lower ball joint came loose? its a lube for life fitted part. if its spinning, sorry bud you need a new one. is the boot on it busted, and if so, is there grease inside? if theres grease inside you can ride for a little while, actually a long while, as long as you check the grease and add grease everynow and then. but if its freely spinning as you say. new ball joint.

 

boot slipped off after i started workin' at it.

Yeah, it's spinning pretty easily. Not completely freely, but close enough...

Any idea how much new ones will cost?

 

i think around $15 from honda, errr acura i mean. and you can get them at places like cough autozone cough, but they're junk. the only thing good about autozone (or whatever silly store) is the whole lifetime warrenty, if it fails, you get a new one free . but OEM is fine stuff if you ask me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScootinIntegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well...the top doesn't look like it's spinning at all, or anything. How would standing on them help? I'm worried about this, don't want to have to buy new ones... </TD></TR></TABLE>That puts some pressure on the tapered shaft, pressing it into the tapered hole, so it won't spin.

 

it may do that, but why would you wanna rely on a busted ball joint? ball joints do support the weight of the vehicle, and the lower ball joint on a double wishbone honda happens to be the load carrying ball joint. so, i'd say i'd feel safer on a new one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 3.504 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it may do that, but why would you wanna rely on a busted ball joint? ball joints do support the weight of the vehicle, and the lower ball joint on a double wishbone honda happens to be the load carrying ball joint. so, i'd say i'd feel safer on a new one.</TD></TR></TABLE>Because it sounded like it was simply spinning. That's not a bad balljoint, even a good BJ can spin.

If it's loose, replace it. If it pivots & spins, but it's NOT loose, it's good.