Ball joint cotter pin issue .

[adk-roadrunner]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my front end with a rebuild kit from PST but I've run into an issue. When I tighten the upper ball joint as tight as I can the bolt isn't on far enough to install cotter pin it would need another turn or 2. Anyone ever run into this?

 

[pnora]

Is it the right ball joint? Is the taper seating deep enough? I would compare and measure it to the old joint.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Is it the right ball joint? Is the taper seating deep enough? I would compare and measure it to the old joint.

The old ball joints are long gone unfortunately. I'll have to contact PST I bought a Super Polygraphite complete front end rebuild kit from them. The sleeves that came with the strut rod bushings also didn't fit they were too small to slide on the shaft. Luckily I still had the old ones and they cleaned up nice and worked but annoying none the less.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

The old ball joints are long gone unfortunately. I'll have to contact PST I bought a Super Polygraphite complete front end rebuild kit from them. The sleeves that came with the strut rod bushings also didn't fit they were too small to slide on the shaft. Luckily I still had the old ones and they cleaned up nice and worked but annoying none the less.

I hate to say it but they buy all import. You have to measure the taper

 

[wagonman]

Had that problem the studs are to short to get the pin in. Fixed it with some different castle nuts I have for whatever they came from? That’s why I never throw stuff out.

 

[Don Frelier]

You could drill another hole.

 

[Darter6]

annoying none the less.

Fixed it with some different castle nuts

Same has happened to me. Lucky I saved the original castle nuts and they weren't as tall as the ones supplied.

 

[chtampa]

There are different height castle nuts. Or just mill off the bottom of the nut.

 

[Mike67]

@PST , maybe James can help you here...

 

[WileE]

You mean, the castle NUT isn't on far enough. You should have enough threads to enable the nut to fully engage. Then again, with all the Chinese crap anything is possible. Contact your supplier & tell them they sold you a garbage part.

 

[themechanic]

Have you tried to torque them to factory specs? How tight is "as tight as I can get it"?

Perhaps they just aren't tight enough.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Have you tried to torque them to factory specs? How tight is "as tight as I can get it"?

Perhaps they just aren't tight enough.

As tight as I could get it was beyond factory specs.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

I ended up removing the washers that the ball joints came with. I couldn't remember if the original ones had them I know the lowers didn't come with them. After removing washers the cotter pin holes lined up perfectly. I did contact PST and he offered to send new castle nuts but while I was installing the steering I had the idea to remove washers and it worked.

 

[themechanic]

Glad you figured it out.