Wonky ball joint

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sat Jun 04, 11 9:29 pm

Fitted new upper ball joints today. One went in no problem at all but though the other looked okay at first it turned out to be not quite straight. Do I need to wind this out and have another go and if so does anyone have any tips to make sure it goes in straight second time around ?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Jun 04, 11 9:44 pm

Looks like you have cross-threaded that puppy.
Be very careful as you could end up kippering the UCA.

I ended up changing an UCA when I did that as I did not want to risk it failing and the ball joint pulling out - the new ball joint cuts its thread as you wind it in......

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sat Jun 04, 11 9:54 pm

That was my worry, Pete. I can't imagine that these UCA's will put up with more than a couple of new threads being cut into them.

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Sat Jun 04, 11 11:36 pm

Oh Bananarama!, when I done that the uca cracked that collar, got nice spares from Dunc

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sun Jun 05, 11 12:18 am

I would worry about that one failing in the near future now it has been cross threaded.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sun Jun 05, 11 11:20 am

Replacement UCA it is then.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Jun 05, 11 5:04 pm

You could always run it out and back in and weld it in place.....

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sun Jun 05, 11 8:05 pm

Pete wrote:You could always run it out and back in and weld it in place.....

Funny you should say that, Pete. It's now in straight and will be checked and welded for safety tomorrow. The thread seems good as it torqued up to the spec in the FSM no problem at all. Better safe than sorry though.