I'm just completing an auto to manual conversion, and i got the new engine back in today after she had been engineless for about a month. I started to tighten up the ball joints, and on both sides, top and bottom, the ball joints just spin and won't allow the nuts to tighten.
A few months back i swapped the cones for springs and replaced the ball joints in the process, and i never had this issue before. Should i just give them a whack with a BFH so that the taper on the joint wedges into the suspension arm?
Spinning Ball Joints!
Started by
mcaville
, Oct 12 2009 09:36 PM
5 replies to this topic
#2
Jordie
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Traders Area Specialist Mod, North and Scotland Area Manager
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Posted 12 October 2009 - 09:38 PM
Jack up the bottom arm to stop them spinning as u tighten them 
#3
miller 666
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One Carb Or Two?
Posted 12 October 2009 - 09:39 PM
i had alot of trouble with this, i round that its alot easier if you jack up the bottom arm so it pulls them together abit, also get some brake cleaner or similar on the threads to make sure the clean and do the same with the nut. The way i did it was get a spanner to fit the nut, 11/36 i think or 5/8 cant remember. Then get it to half a turn before it starts spinning, go back the other way (losen it) then back to tighten it, then loosen it, then tighten it etc...This is how i did it and it worked a treat.
Cheers
Cheers
#4
daveeeeee
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 12 October 2009 - 09:40 PM
once you start lifting the car off of the suspension it sure as fudge aint gonna spin 
#5
mcaville
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Mini Mad
Posted 12 October 2009 - 09:57 PM
Cheers guys, i'll definitely try out some of those techniques tomorrow.
I can't wait till she's finished. She failed her MOT in June on suspension and shocks, so that was when i replaced all of that. Took her back in for a re-test - which she passed - then the garage took her out for a road test, during which the auto gearbox gave up the ghost. So, she's had an MOT for the last 4 months but not had any use. I haven't even had chance to properly test the new springs. Anyway, got the engine today, hoping to have her all plumbed back in by the end of the week, then a trip to ML Motorsport for a tune up!!
I can't wait till she's finished. She failed her MOT in June on suspension and shocks, so that was when i replaced all of that. Took her back in for a re-test - which she passed - then the garage took her out for a road test, during which the auto gearbox gave up the ghost. So, she's had an MOT for the last 4 months but not had any use. I haven't even had chance to properly test the new springs. Anyway, got the engine today, hoping to have her all plumbed back in by the end of the week, then a trip to ML Motorsport for a tune up!!
#6
MRA
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Previously known as 'mra-minis.co.uk'.
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Posted 12 October 2009 - 09:58 PM
The way i did it was get a spanner to fit the nut, 11/36 i think or 5/8 cant remember.
Cheers
Various sizes..... but the main ones are 11/16" and 3/4" AF (Across the Flats)
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