ok, mega problem with my suspension... i was replacing my front springs on my 86 v6 firebird, i decided to leave the two main control arm(or a-arm) on and just remove the Castlated nut holding the steering knuckle to the control arm. this way i could just swing the control arm down and out of the way and would have a verry easy install, well all went acording to plan, after getting my new spring positioned i began slowly jacking my control arm up into position, being sure to line the control aorm and ball-joint up to the steering knuckle, well somhow i put to mutch pressure on the ball joint on the controll arm and now when i try and tighten the castelated nut the "bolt/stud" coming off the ball joint on the a-arm just spins.

WTF? how do i fix this? do i need a new lower_control-arm/a-arm
be honest, i am totaly screwed arent i?? ***, why didn't i just take the thing to a mehanic????

if anyone else has replaced springs or a-arms or has rebuilt entire suspension(tomp) please peovide your input, i am lost on this...

 

i know it sounds retarted but u need to tighten it to get it to stop spinning, its similar to installing tie rods, i would use the jack under the control arm to push the ball joint into the spindle as far as the threads will go, this should put enough pressure to keep it from spinning,

 

If you've got the car torn down that far already, you just need to rent a ball joint press (usually free from somewhere like autozone or pep boys; you pay for the tool, and if you return it in a week, you get all your money back) and buy a $20 balljoint. Cake.

 

so it is possible to replace a ball joint yourself? i thought theyhad to be press fit by a shop.cool thanks man

Edit: just re-read your post, whn you say rent do youmean buy it then return it? or rent with a deposit? if i had to buy it i would just keep it cause that is ot a cool thing to do in my opinion
(i work retail and i hate it when people pull stuff)
anyway, thankyou agin for helping me

 

No, that's their rental program- well, for Pep Boys anyway. You pay the full price as your deposit.

That way they don't have to hunt you down if you don't bring the tool back in a week.

Ex:

Balljoint press costs $100 new
You go to the counter and tell them you want to rent it
They make you sign a piece of paper
They give you the tool
You go to the cashier, pay $100 rental fee.

If a week goes by, don't bother coming back, you now own the tool.

If you bring it back before the week's up, you bring the tool and rental agreement back to the register and get your C-note back.

Personally I bought my own balljoint press... made by OTC, off the 'net. If it's a tool for my car, I'll buy it. I paid $90 for the press, sold locally for $120 for a cheaper brand (OTC is a professional brand).

Check out http://www.toolparadise.com ! In the box at the top right, type in "ball joint press" - the OTC #7249 comes up first, for $87. Yes the adapter cups will fit our balljoints.

 

wow... i think i will just rent it. but thanks for all the info, your the man!

 

UPDATE:
got it all back together, i raised my car by 4". thats how low it was. holly sh*t. anyway, need to do the backsprings next

 

I have never used a ball joint press to remove it from the A arm. Just hammered it out!! It will go, as long as the arm is well supported.

Andy.

Andy.