15 replies to this topic

[Cir-clipalot]

I'm just being curious really but does anyone know why the top and bottom balljoint to suspension arm nuts arent nylocks?

[Dan]

Because it was designed in 1958. It's a classic car, cope with it.

[Cir-clipalot]

Just thought it was odd though because most of the other suspension nuts are nylocs, yet even the balljoint nuts you get in the kits arent..

[Dan]

I think the real reason is that you'd have very little chance of getting them on or off if they were. Think about what happens to the trackrod end nuts when you fit them, you can only get them to thread because you can jam the rod end, you can't do that with the ball joints so you'd never get them on.


Sorry, I was being flippant before!

[Guess-Works.com]

I use nylocs on all suspension joints, from tie rods, track rods and ball joints, Only if I run out do I use a standard nut and lock washer...

Every year I go to the classic car show at Stoneleigh and by a 20 quid bag of nylocs ranging from 1/4 thru 1/2 UNF (thats propper measurements to you youngsters) ... the only problem is this year I've ran out already...

[Jammy]

Wasn't Stoneleigh a month or so back?

[bluebottle]

i'm lucky in that i have good access to nice lightweight stiff nuts (also known as 'k' nuts) in work, marvelous things, not had one come loose yet.

[Bluemini]

Do you keep your nuts in a sack so you don't loose them











Sorry, someone had to post somat stupid in a thread like this...

[Rob]

:tongue:

[Guess-Works.com]

Mine generally roll around loose on the garage floor :saywhat:

and yes Stoneleigh was in March I think, and a number of engine/gearbox/front suspension rebuilds have diminished my stocks...

[miniman5]

because, some how the spring steel washer stops it opening, thats why its cut and bent.

[Cir-clipalot]

Thanks to Dan for answering the question and thanks to everyone else for the quality series of puns. :cool:

[998dave]

because, some how the spring steel washer stops it opening, thats why its cut and bent.

called a thrust washer because it creates a pushing force on the nut which causes metal to metal contact between the thread on the nut and the threaded bolt, nyloc's work pretty much the same way by being squashed and creating thrust on the threads, the nylon also has the advantage of being squeezed and creating it's own friction on the thread (newtons 2nd law, equal and opposite reactions), all quite simple yet clever stuff really...

[1275UK]

If you jack under the lower wishbone it will lock the new ball joint tapers top and bottom and you can use a nylock if you want.


998Dave, nice LC here's my old 'un

[Dan]

It's not a thrust washer it's a split lock washer. A thrust washer is for bearing thrust as behind the primary gear. It's locking action is mainly caused by it biting into the surface of the nut, the axial loading is very minor especially compared to the loading caused by torquing the nut. Nyloc's are locked purely by the nylon griping the thread as it cuts through it (because nylon doesn't machine well basically).

Edited by Dan, 30 June 2005 - 05:23 PM.