Steering Ball Joint

[Ted W. Hazen]

I have just completed(just about) replacing my ball joints and front steering u-joints in my 1994 4x4. U-joints were full of red dust where bearings were supposed to be. Anyway to the point, I was making the last connection and attaching right steering ball joint to steering nuckle and determined that when I pressed ball joint out of nuckle the little point on my puller was not centered and caused a dimple on the head of the attaching bolt and the nut would not go on. Would running a die of the appropriate size clean up the threads or is there some other direction I should be looking, like replacing the steering ball joint. I really can't tell looking at it how it is replaced. I would appreciate any advise.

 

[catoiler]

The head Needs to be filled down so as to allow the die to go on without damage to bolt. just file enough to get die on. good luck!

 

[sewman]

A Thread file might work easier then trying to get a die in there.

 

[illflem]

Ted, what I do is grind or file the mushroomed part off, sometimes you won't even need a tap then. If the bolt is the type with a hole for a cotter pin though it sometimes they get so damaged that you need to replace them. Glad to hear you are getting your front end squared away, wonder if that crap they started spraying on the roads for ice caused the damage. Save your reciepts, there were some guys in E. WA starting a class action lawsuit against the state to recoup the damages the icemelter has caused. If you remember the state said before they started using it that it would cause no damage, some folks have had it take out brake lines and wireing.

 

[Ted W. Hazen]

Thanks catoiler, sewman and illflem. I was able to file the dimple down enough to get a thread chaser on and the rest is history. Got my baby all buttoned up and took it for a test drive. Now drives like it did when it was new. Thank you Bill for the info on our WSDOT. I'll keep and eye out for anything relative to the subject.

 

[Extreme1]

Montana: To be included in the rustbelt..

Sorry to hear of that development (ice melter). The people who push that crap around here have the municipalities convinced that plowing isn't necessay anymore.



It's gets me really reved up to see a plow truck driving down the road with the blade UP and dumping salt on 4" of snow...