I just replaced the axles on my 98 civic and when I was putting the nut back on the lower ball joint I started tightening and the ball joint kept spinning, preventing me from getting the nut anywhere near where it needs to be. Is there any way that I can hold the ball joint in place while i tighten or do I need a new joint?

 

you need a new castle nut really.

there are things you can do tho to help tighten the used, stretched nut.

using an impact wrench helps if you have one available.

also, just buy a 12x1.25 tap and rethread your old nut.

some try just loading the suspension as much as possible to increase friction, but that really never works. its usually so stretched you wont get enough friction to overcome the threads not matching.

 

So if i were to go to the honda dealer and buy a new nut the spinning would stop?

 

i guarantee.

unless you really buggered the balljoint.

but typically its the nut.

and you can rethread the balljoint with the approriate die if you needed to anyway.

 

just have someone stand on the knuckle while you are tighten the nut. You WILL run into the same problem when you take it off again for whatever reasons. Just lift the knuckle or lift it up with a jack while you loosen the nut. It will start to be annoying if you work on your car a lot so I would just change it.

 

i use big *** channel locks to squeeze the lower arm and spindle together where the balljoint is. this way it keeps pressure on the ball joint so it doesnt spin.

 

Get a new nut or run a tap through it. I've tried jacking up the car by the control arm until the car just starts to come off the jackstands and the ball joint was still spinning.

 

Here is how I've done it when I wasn't able to run out & buy a new nut...

- Place jack under LCA
- Jack up LCA so it's supported by jack (car should NOT lift off jack-stands)
- Have a friend push downward on brake-disc/hub as hard as they can
- Tighten & torque castle nut to spec
- Insert new cotter pin

If that dosn't stop the ball-joint from spinning, try installing the wheel so your friend stand on the tire for some added pressure. Then you can tighten the nut from the backside of the wheel (don't knock the car of it's jack-stands). If this doesn't work, your either replacing the nut, or re-tapping the threads on the ball-joint.

/thread

 

Just did my axle also on my integra and had the same problem. Go buy a thread restoring file at your favorite tool shop. Here is a link for the one I used, http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog...=1149. Make sure it has the 1.25 pitch and file the lower ball joint thread from top to bottom. When you're done filing, go buy a new castle nut, $5.00 at your honda dealer, and test it by screwing it on by hand. It should screw in very easy and if not, continue to file the thread. When the lower ball joint is ready to assemble, jack the LCA up and the castle nut should screw in with ease with wrench. Make sure you torque it to spec so you can easliy remove it next time.

PM me if you need further help and good luck!

 

$5? for a castle nut lol..

go to the junk yard and get it for free

 

$5 can save a day of work and fustration. A new castle nut will make sure it goes in freely.