Ball Joint Flip Problem

[TEN36VX]

I am trying to do the BJ flip going by Triathletes instructions from an old thread (http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1816).
My problem is that after getting the castle nut off of the BJ shaft I cant get the darn A-arm to release. Penetrating lube + repeated whacks with a 3# sledge and nuthin'...

Any suggestions?

[Triathlete]

Hit it harder...it will come. I used an 8 pound sledge I think. They can get wedged on there pretty good. The Control arms are pretty durable, you probably are not going to hurt them.

[Jonnie]

Thats my same problem to get at the CV axle. Spazz said to just go for the lower arm bolts, but that scares me for some reason.

Jonnie

[tomdietrying]

I did a mini lift on my VX. I put the OME 912 springs and turned the nut to raise the toursion bar. I did not flip the ball joint. My question is should I and what is it for?

I did Moab again this year and the vehicle preformed great doing 3.5 and 4.0 rated trail without the flip. Was I lucky that nothing happened in Moab?

Peace.
Tom

[Triathlete]

Tom,
The only thing the ball joint flip really does is allow for an easier allignment of the front end. If your allignment went smooth (the guy was able to do it and didn't come in and tell you it wasn't allignable) then you really don't need to worry about it.

[E-ZooZoo One]

Yep - the Ball Joints can be a real bugger to break loose…

Whenever I do it, I always leave the castle nut on there, hanging-on by a few thread-turns… That way, when the BFH finally persuades it to let loose, everything stays put.

[TEN36VX]

Finally got 'er loose (My 2 year old had fun whacking at it with me).

But when I did, I ran into more problems... when it dropped it stripped some of the threads at the bottom end of the BJ shaft, so when I went to put the castle nut back on it got about half way started and began turning the joint.

I took BJ off of the upper arm, filed some of the threads, and installed it to the spindal mount no problem. However getting it back up there was no fun. Jacking teh bottom arm up didnt do anything but raise teh spindle an inch before it raised the truck off of the jack stands. Had to get my wife to wedge in there and sit on the upper arm to get it back together.

Tomorrow I do the other side. I need to get a special wrench 'cause it looks like the castle on that side is gonna strip if I try to torque it off anymore.

Seems mine isnt going quite as easy as some... Byt anything to make my baby better.

Thanks for the advice all.

[Triathlete]

Don't forget the allignment when your done!

[WormGod]

I "SO" want to do this.... but then she wouldnt fit in the garage, hahaha. Having wet dreams of going from a street ride to a skyscraper.

[TEN36VX]

I finally got through this process, but wanted to post again for the part number.

The castle nut on the passenger side did round off. Couldnt find a wrench to grab the flats to get it off so I ended up cutting it with a Dremel. All the Isuzu dealers said it would take a week to get me a replacement, which just wouldnt do. The local Honda dealership got me the part overnighted with no shipping charge. Turns out its the same part the Passport uses.

Anyway, If anybody needs it, it's a 14mm 1.50 castle nut. I went to 8 different places before ordering and nobody carries metric that big. In the Isuzu parts book its says its a 10mm, but dont believe 'em.
The correct part number is 8-94124-556-0.

[Ldub]

Had to get my wife to wedge in there and sit on the upper arm to get it back together.

For those of us without a diminutive, contortionist wife who's willing to risk life & limb at the whim of jacks, jack-stands & Hubby standing there with a wrench in his hand...I submit an alternative.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC00285.JPG


http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC00286.JPG


Ten36, no offence meant by the "dimutive, contortionist" comment...I still have NO idea how you talked her into that...must be love ! ;)

[taylorRichie]

THREAD RESURRECTION - This is the thread that helped me with the install, so to help someone else I'm posting on it.
===================

For those of you that weigh 150lb, and able to curl a mere 50lbs, I present another approach.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/bjFlip.jpg

I used a ratcheting Tie Down to pull the Upper Control Arm down to the Ball Joint. I put a screw driver in the left and right holes of the UCA, to hold the Tie Down in place. Then as it was ratcheting down I made sure those screwdrivers went through the Ball Joint Holes. I continued to tighten until I could get the back bolt on... Then I released the Tie Down. Removed the two screwdrivers, and installed the other bolts.

The Landscaping Wood timber was there to take up some of the tie down because it couldn't cinch tight enough without something taking up the slack. So YMMV.

Worked great!!

The other side I was able to do what LDUB did, only instead of a human pulling the Crescent Wrench, I had a tie down attached to a fence post, and I slowly ratcheted it until it was pulled down to get the bolts in.

I need to goto the GYM.