Upper control arm help

Forshaw · Postby **Forshaw** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:16 pm

Need to fix this ASAP but I don't have a nut laying around that fits, it's threaded I'm not sure if I have to replace the whole bolt or just the nut.

Any ideas?

koop21 · Postby **koop21** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:18 pm

Hi,

Not entirely sure what your trying to point out here but, in your pic that's just a normal nut... its meant to be a castle nut you can buys these at supercheap/repco/etc and don't forget the locking pin. If the actual thread on the upper ball joint is "mushroomed" you will need to get a die and cut the treads back into it, or try and force a nut in to it. If the upper baller joint begins to spin on itself, use a sissor jack + wood to hold it down and proceed to tighten the nut.

koop21 · Postby **koop21** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:18 pm

edit: double post...

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:23 pm

HF! Has that come loose by itself? Not in any way safe to drive the car until the whole upper ball joint assembly is put right one way or another.

Worst case but if the ball joint shaft or its thread is damaged then it may mean replacing the whole upper control arm since they're not usually sold separately. http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/front-upper-w ... p-979.html but second hand off a lowish mileage car should be OK too.

If it's happened on one ball joint then I'd get someone to check over everything done in the coilover change. I get a bit paranoid about things that mean wheels or suspension falls off while driving.

outbreakmonkey · Postby **outbreakmonkey** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:34 pm

manga_blue wrote: I get a bit paranoid about things that mean wheels or suspension falls off while driving.

Comment of the year.

I remember walking up to the back of a mates road bike and noticing his rear hub nut was loose and unsecured. Asked him if his life was worth 10 minutes with a drill and a $1 cotter pin.