How do you tighten a spinning ball joint?

[Shirokuma]

1994 Honda Accord LX lower ball joint.

It took some effort to get the castle nut loose, so I’m guessing an equal amount is required to tighten it. So, how do I tighten a ball joint if it rotates with turning the nut? The other two ball joints, I could get enough squeeze on them to friction set the tapered post, and then proceed with tightening the nut. The lower ball joint I could not. Any ideas?

Jeff

Topic

[Shaun_300]

Just put a jack under the control arm to put some pressure on the joint to hold it solid while you tighten the nut.

[jbone]

I thought it had to be pressed in???

[EricTheCarGuy]

I sometimes take a pry bar and use it to ‘wedge’ the joint into the bore of the knuckle in order to hold it while I tighten it. If you using hand tools you may need someone to hold the bar while you tighten the nut.

[Shirokuma]

Quoted From Shaun_300:

Just put a jack under the control arm to put some pressure on the joint to hold it solid while you tighten the nut.

Thank you!

[Shirokuma]

Quoted From EricTheCarGuy:

I sometimes take a pry bar and use it to ‘wedge’ the joint into the bore of the knuckle in order to hold it while I tighten it. If you using hand tools you may need someone to hold the bar while you tighten the nut.

What are you prying against? Can I assume that the bottom of the pry bar is on the top of the ball joint?

[1sickaccord]

yeah there has to be pressure on the ball joint in order for it not to spin

[EricTheCarGuy]

I wedge the pry bar between the lower control arm and the bottom of the steering knuckle.

[Author]

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