bustedse-r

So I was changing my driver's side axle today, and all was going fine until I was tried to reattach the ball joint to the control arm. Anybody have some advice or tricks?

For some reason I can't get the three bolt plate meet with the ball joint. I can't push down the control arm far enough, and every time I try to jack up the knuckle to meet it, it won't line up. Removing the two big bolts that attach the strut to the knuckle didn't help either. I'm about to take the whole strut assembly out to see if that helps, but that seems really extreme

91 Maxima SE, 5-spd

subs1000w

i would suggest un bolting the swaybar linkage that should give you enough play to line them up

it takes some practice to do it without unbolting it but i can do it no problem now but i guess after doing somthing like 10 trans jobs and various axle replacments on 3rd gens i should be able to but i remember when i had the same problem the 1st time

«§»Craig B«§»

iTrader: (5)

I usually just lay under the car and pull down on the control arm to line it up and I've always been able to get it then.

subs1000w

that exactly what i do but if he cant get it like that he could unbolt the sway bar also

Bman

Hmm... I've done/undone my balljoints a few times over the last couple weeks now and what seems to work for me is just trying to get the balljoint and the control arm close to parallel on the same plane by eyeballing it, and then wiggling the knuckle around until the studs drop through the holes. Sometimes lifting both upwards a bit too far and then getting them to meet on the way down as your playing with them. Having the swaybar link off helps too, as said.

If you're still having trouble pushing the control arm DOWN enough to get it in with the swaybar off, you might just have to use more muscle, or leverage, or get someone to help you hold it down, since the bushings don't like to move much... maybe loosening the big control arm bolt might help (retighten only when lowered though).

Don't forget to get a wheel alignment since you undid the strut bolts. Good luck.

CandiMan

iTrader: (1)

Leverage is the key, if you got a piece of wood or metal bar stick it in there somehow and pry down the control arm while re-aligning the ball joint. There's more than one way to skin a cat