ball joint stud / knuckle re-assembly problem

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pbright@winfordeng.com - 19 Feb 2006 21:24 GMT

Hello,
I just replaced the passenger-side half shaft in my '93 Park Avenue
Ultra. That really wasn't too terrible of a job. The problem is
getting everything put back together. Try as I might (and I have spent
a good deal of time trying), I have not been able to get the knuckle
hole lined up with the stud of the ball joint so that I can get them
joined up. It is close, but I can't seem to get the knuckle pushed
towards the car that last 1/2" or so to get them lined up at the proper
angle (stud needs to be angled in towards the car somewhat). Are there
any tricks out there for getting this thing back together? Although I
don't fix cars for a living, I usually am able to get these things
figured out sooner or later, but I am getting pretty frustrated on this
one. Thanks for any help!
Regards,
Phil

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Mike Marlow - 19 Feb 2006 22:31 GMT

> Hello,
> I just replaced the passenger-side half shaft in my '93 Park Avenue
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Regards,
> Phil

Fight with it, swear a bit, turn the wheel in both directions, swear a bit
more, fight some more, go into the house and post a bit of frustration on
the internet and sure enough, you'll sit back down at it and the damned
thing will just sort of go together.

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-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

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Don Bruder - 19 Feb 2006 23:44 GMT

> > Hello,
> > I just replaced the passenger-side half shaft in my '93 Park Avenue
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> the internet and sure enough, you'll sit back down at it and the damned
> thing will just sort of go together.

Gawd, do I know the truth in *THAT*! :)

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Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - If your "From:" address isn't on my whitelist,
or the subject of the message doesn't contain the exact text "PopperAndShadow"
somewhere, any message sent to this address will go in the garbage without my
ever knowing it arrived. Sorry... <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd> for more info

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jim - 20 Feb 2006 02:49 GMT

> It is close, but I can't seem to get the knuckle pushed
> towards the car that last 1/2" or so to get them lined up at the proper
> angle (stud needs to be angled in towards the car somewhat).

Try pushing the balljoint stud away from the car(towards the knuckle)
and if that doesnt help try tightening the axle nut in order to pull
the axle in more which should give you a little more play.
Hope it works out for you,axle jobs are usually pretty straight
forward.

JIM

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tom&kel - 20 Feb 2006 03:51 GMT

i had to use a long 2x4 turned sideways(pry up) to pull up the ball joint on
a old nissan....it was a bear to do. most times i just slowly lower the car
with the floor jack ,and have a bottle jack or jack stand under the ball
joint area to provide the opposing upward force. having someone (at the same
time) slightly moving the steering wheel can also help coax it in. just be
safe about it.

>> It is close, but I can't seem to get the knuckle pushed
>> towards the car that last 1/2" or so to get them lined up at the proper
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> JIM

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pbright@winfordeng.com - 21 Feb 2006 00:59 GMT

Thanks for the information, everyone. I think I've got a couple things
to try, at least. If nothing else, it sounds like I'm not the only one
who has wasted a lot of time wrestling with a ball joint / knuckle. If
it's a piece of cake 90% of the time, then I would think maybe my
replacement halfshaft is simply a little too long, thus preventing me
front pushing the knuckle in towards the car far enough. However,
based on your feedback, I'm thinking it's a lot more likely that it's
yet another case of operator error, and I just need to keep working at
it. Thanks again!
Regards,
Phil

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Mike Marlow - 21 Feb 2006 13:02 GMT

> Thanks for the information, everyone. I think I've got a couple things
> to try, at least. If nothing else, it sounds like I'm not the only one
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> yet another case of operator error, and I just need to keep working at
> it. Thanks again!

Hey Phil - not so much operator error as it is a matter of getting a few
things to line up just-so, in order that they will all go together
just-right, without a lot of room for just-a-little-more. It can be a pain
to get the ball joint to start up into the knuckle, and I wish I could give
you a quick and dirty "just do this", but I can't. It's really just a
matter of screwing with it, turning the knuckle (as if turning the front
wheels), etc. Believe it or not, you'll suddenly find some magic spot where
presto - it almost (remember... almost) just glides together. Once you get
the stud started through you can put the nut on and pull it the rest of the
way. We all fight with these to some extent, even if we've done a hundred
of them.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

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Dave in Columbus - 21 Feb 2006 05:16 GMT

>Hello,
> I just replaced the passenger-side half shaft in my '93 Park Avenue
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Regards,
> Phil

Have one of your heavier friends sit on the fender as you try to get the
ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. This should help.

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Dave in Columbus

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