upper ball joints

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Sat Sep 13, 08 7:09 am

No mate they screw in you need either a socket or you can do it with the right size spanner but they can be a bitch to get out

latil · Post by **latil** » Sat Sep 13, 08 8:48 am

Before you undo them, clean off any rust etc on the exposed few threads.Otherwise as the thing unscrews any muck is dragged through the threads in the arm,which are quite fine and can easily be stripped.
When fitting the new ones check and double check that they are not crossthreaded on the way in to the top arm.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Sep 13, 08 9:44 am

Hi ask CHRIS @ wasp for the socket (its not cheep) as he is about the closest to you or ask on here as lots of us have both sizes.

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Tue Sep 16, 08 11:24 am

real bitch of a job, as said clean threads up then I really heted the wishbone up & gripped the the flats of the ball joint in a vice & wound the wishbone off of the ball joint, real difficult to do, no tools except & vice & lots of heat

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Sep 16, 08 11:52 am

That is why it is easier to do it with the UCA still attatched to the car Andy.

You have to be really careful with the UCAs as you can bend them if you put them in a vise.

I have the correct B/E socket too if anyone needs to borrow it. It has a 3/4 drive for a big brake bar but I also have a 1/2 inch adaptor so "normal" sized bars will fit.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Tue Sep 16, 08 12:24 pm

check also the quality of your replacements

if they thread doesn't look the same send em back.

there are some really rubbish ones around with a V poor thread.
mainly from china, sold by both US and AUS ebay suppliers.
there is no way in hell they will go in without damage to the arm... i.e you tie yourself into always using this brand if you manage the task as they end up destroying the original thread.

probably a bad batch as the aussie message boards were a buzz with this last year once the exchange rate swang in their favour and it became worthwhile investigating parts from foreign shores.

Dave

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Sep 16, 08 1:01 pm

To be honest. Even if the thread is exactly the same you would be lucky if it didn't cut a new thread anyway.

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Tue Sep 16, 08 1:34 pm

once its in the wishbone, id put a couple of welds on a well, wish id done this when I had the coronet apart, this is both you & neil this has happend to recently