Tightening Up Lower Ball Joint

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I want to torque up my lower ball joints (35nm) to hubs with the car on all fours but but it's near impossible to work the tools on my own whilst jamming pouring myself under the front valance, i've got them tight already but not horsed them.

 

Would putting the front of car on ramps be ok to torque them up to allow me access? or would that defeat the purpose in trying to avoid ovaling the hubs?

 

TIA

[welshpug 1,656]

its the bushes you tighten with the wishbones at rest not the balljoint.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

s*it, i done them with car up, will do them again.

 

When you say at rest, do you mean the car on it's wheels? or where the wishbone dangles?

 

Thanks WP.

[welshpug 1,656]

car on its wheels

[dcc 855]

you can do this with the car in the air, just jack the wishbone up on the hub to get the wishbone level. always done mine like this and never had an issue.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

What Dan says. Unless you have it on a 4 poster ramp it's virtually impossible to do it to any form of accuracy with the car on the floor

[Ozymandis 96]

The ball joint clamp bolts can be tightened with it up in the air.

 

Its the rubber bushed wishbone bolts you need to tighten with weight on.

Just stand the front wheels on something, i use a couple of old wheels to stand them on.

If you have ramps use them.

[Plumbob 66 1 Cars]

I did what dcc said, wheel off, car on an axle stand, lump of wood between the trolley jack and wishbone, jack up the wishbone until you can feel the wishbone start to take the weight of the car (wishbone level) and do the Wishbone nuts up. Got to recheck mine as I've done a few miles now..

Edited February 6, 2015 by Plumbob

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Cheers all. Will do it with the jack.

[Malc 45]

Damn wish I'd bet u a tenner the other night regards the ball joints and wish bone bolts,

 

Ha ha told you so.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Damn wish I'd bet u a tenner the other night regards the ball joints and wish bone bolts,

 

Ha ha told you so.

Smart erse