Upper ball joint threading stripped
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 inline 6
Upper ball joint threading stripped
the upper ball joint on both sides are Dana Spicers that I picked up from 4 wheel parts, the holes for the cotter pins were drilled way to low, after I took pictures and sent them to my local 4 wheel parts the manager confirmed what I saw to be a problem. He told me that he would give me some washers that I could use to lower the bolt a little so that the cotter pins fit snugly. I however found out that the driver side upper ball joint nut had stripped the ball joint stud slightly, now the bolt is all the way up so thats its tightened and I can't remove it to put the washers in.
Does anyone else think that I am in deep **** here? Suppose I hit a pot hole and the nut breaks free... My main concern here is that since the cotter pin is not lined up and the threading is slightly stripped, can this cause the nut to break free and cause a bad accident?
Does anyone else think that I am in deep **** here? Suppose I hit a pot hole and the nut breaks free... My main concern here is that since the cotter pin is not lined up and the threading is slightly stripped, can this cause the nut to break free and cause a bad accident?
Last edited by xjwanted; 12-27-2011 at 06:46 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands Ranch Co.
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1985 shell
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1996 6 cylinder Briggs & Stratton
The ball joint is interference fit, if you move it out it will not stay put. Perhaps pics would help. If what your talking about doing is to place washers under the nut-- that should worlk.
#4
CF Veteran
the ball joint is a press fit into the axle. the knuckle is pressed on by both the upper ball joint nut and lower ball joint nut, so if the top nut were to come loose, you still have the lower nut taking the load.
best option would be to get a nut splitter and remove the nut and press in a new upper ball joint.
best option would be to get a nut splitter and remove the nut and press in a new upper ball joint.
#5
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 inline 6
4 wheel parts checked it
So I drove out to four wheel parts this afternoon and had their technician take a look at my ball joints, he said that they looked fine and that though the cotter pin hole was drilled low I should be okay. I will probably get a second opinion tomorrow from another shop where I am going to get my alignment and wheels ands tires balanced.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rcguymike
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
18
09-12-2015 05:29 PM
Rich164
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
09-08-2015 08:32 AM
ammonllewis1
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-03-2015 09:03 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)