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05 ram 2500 new ball joints are in but spinning

292 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  usmilret, 
tenteromano
I just put it new Mopar upper and lower ball joints and couldn’t get the upper and lower ball joint nut tight. The ball joint kept spinning. I tried putting a fork between the knuckle and the ball joint and still nothing. Any ideas? Would putting everything back together including the tire then letting the truck rest on the tire work? I think I could get to the lower nut with a wrench but what about the upper ball joint nut?
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A
They are usually a press fit. I haven't done mine on my 13 yet but check to see if there is a socket end on the bottom of the ball joint. Usually like an 8 or 10mm you can hold while you turn with a wrench. If not you can use a C clamp on the outside of the top of the ball joint (carefully) and squeeze down until the fit is tight then tighten until you can get your cotter pin through.

I've also held the bottom with vice grips while turning with a hand wrench when all else fails.
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tenteromano
Anoydforever said:
They are usually a press fit. I haven't done mine on my 13 yet but check to see if there is a socket end on the bottom of the ball joint. Usually like an 8 or 10mm you can hold while you turn with a wrench. If not you can use a C clamp on the outside of the top of the ball joint (carefully) and squeeze down until the fit is tight then tighten until you can get your cotter pin through.

I've also held the bottom with vice grips while turning with a hand wrench when all else fails.
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thank you. I’m going to try tightening it with the weight on itself with the tire on. I don’t think mine has a socket end. Where Exactly do I put the c clamp? Top of it on the top of the ball joint ?
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A
Yes on top of the ball joint that sits in the control arm, you may be able to fit a socket or a small cup sort of thing. If it has a zerk on top be sure not to damage it. They usually have flat spots at the very bottom of the shaft. You may also be able to (carefully) give the top of the control arm a whack with a rubber mallet to get it to seat so you can tighten it.
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rghavana
If refering to the the body they should not spin, they make oversize joints for this issue , some guys take center punch and dimple area of c's to make a better fit , really should get correct part .
If you are refering to the stud part, yes put weight on it .
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U
Your ball joints are spinning because the steering knuckle has not gripped them. It can be as simple as using a bottle jack under the steering knuckle assembly forcing it upward to "grip" your tapered ball joints.
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tenteromano
usmilret said:
Your ball joints are spinning because the steering knuckle has not gripped them. It can be as simple as using a bottle jack under the steering knuckle assembly forcing it upward to "grip" your tapered ball joints.
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I put a piece of wood under the bottom ball joint and jacked it from there and it was still spinning. Any other ideas? Going to give it a shot later since it’s sitting on the tire. You think that would work?
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U
Can you at least tighten one of them because if you can then eventually should be able to tighten both.
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tenteromano
Got them tight thanks everyone. Totally forgot to put locktite on the threads. Should I take the nuts off and put locktite or will I be good? The nuts are pretty tight on there.
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C
It helps to degrease the ball joint stud and the tapered hole in the knuckle. Don't use loctite. Use the cotter pin.
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tenteromano
My ball joint bolts didn’t have a cotter pin for them or a hole for the pin. These are Mopar ones too which I’m surprised about. Suggestions?
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rayvin433
tenteromano said:
My ball joint bolts didn’t have a cotter pin for them or a hole for the pin. These are Mopar ones too which I’m surprised about. Suggestions?
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Torque to spec & you will be fine.
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rghavana
OEM i have installed had detent /prevailing nuts, are they Real AAM ?
2003-2012 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 AAM 9.25 Solid Front Axle Ball Joint Kit (puredieselpower.com)
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U
Ball joints when they are assembled onto your hub should never be able back out. They should be "nylon lockers".
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