Bertrand Daoust

Hi,

I'm trying to remove the nut on the ball joint of the upper control arm but as there is alot of rust, the nut is turning with the ball joint.
How can I hold the ball joint in place while removing the nut?

Any trick?

Thank you.

JEllis

Most ball joints (I am not a 928 expert) have a place for an allen wrench to hold the spindle while you remove the nut. Usually right at the top of the spindle.

Jason

Bertrand Daoust

I did't look very closely as it was full of dirt but will try for sure.

Thanks.

JEllis

Yeah that should do it. Both my 98 M3 and 06 997 had spindles that required the use of an allen wrench or Torx wrench to hold the spindle steady while the nut was removed.

Jason

928mac

I have a 5 foot bar that I hook under the back of the A-arm and I lay across it to put pressure down on the upper ball joint.

I then reach under with the impact gun and give it a pop. Normally it comes right off but they can be stubborn.

Vilhuer

928 joints do not have anything to hold on to.

Easiest way to open those nuts is to turn them while tire is on the ground. Clean visible thread really well before trying. If this doesn't help there are nut spliters which will do the trick, if it fits.

Bertrand Daoust

Thank guys.
Right now, the car is on jack stand with both coil remove.

Will be out all day - work. Back tonight.

Vilhuer

You can also try to apply small pressure to joint with large pliers to try to hold it while turning the nut. Compress between end of threads and above a-arm while protecting arms top surface with something. Obviously not from the threads. Though usually this doesn't help much but it worth trying before more drastic methods.



There are also special tools which can be used to compress joint together. As long as compression isn't too hard joint will be ok.

jwillman

I just had the same issue this weekend. Advise I was given that worked was to use a pry bar to apply force down on the Arm against the wheel hub mount to pinch the tappered shaft of the pin into place and then I was able to get the nut moving.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...date-done.html

Tom in Austin

I just used a big 6" C-clamp to compress the upper arm down onto the spindle. When the BJ pin sits tightly enough down in the taper, you can get enough force on the nut to break it loose.

AO

a 4' 2x2 also works for getting some load on the ball joint. You can also try putting a jack (carefully) under the lower control arm. I've done both with success.

928mac

Thats a +5 for sure. To hold the bottom with a jack or something solid and then lever down onto it the ball joint will tighten in the bore when you go to spin it off.

One word of caution.
You do not want to spin the joint shaft in the spindle bore very much as it will ware it. (repeatedly, 50 times with an impact gun)
An old worn spindle that dose not fit the taper can cause the ball joint shaft to snap under heavy loading like a tight corner or trying to avoid something.

Loosing a wheel at speed is not cool

Bertrand Daoust

Thank you very mutch everybody for your help.
Very appreciated.

I'm quite sure it will work with one of these methods.

Also, today I was thinking about it and thought that I could try to cut a screwdriver slot
under the pin and use a screwdriver to hold it in place just like Wally's suggestion in Jim's thread.
More work but this should work too.

Won't work on the car until Friday or Saturday at best.
Will give you some news then.

Many thanks again.

Bertrand Daoust

Hi everybody,

Finaly removed the nut on the upper control arm today.
I was able to remove it removing (destroying) the rubber cap (?) and using a vise grip to hold it tight.

I tried using a big C clamp and a big plier like Vilhuer suggested but both methods did'n hold it tight enough.

Everything is now removed in the front.

Now I have to remove the pins on the back suspension.
I removed both nuts without any problem but the pin doesn't want to move at all when I hit it.

Any other tricks guys?

Thank you to all of you for your help.
Very appreciated.

fraggle

PB blaster, a steel rod and a hammer. Whack whack!