Ball Joint Help

[Guest piddy]

Hello all.

I’m in the process of making my own wishbone suspension.

After having the top wishbones welded, I’m finding it very hard to screw the Transit ball joint into the threaded tube after a set distance, I believe caused by the heat generated during the welding stage distorting the tread inside. I can manage to get 37mm of a possible 47mm screwed in to the tube.

I believe my options are:

1.Buy a bolt and force it through (cant buy a bolt unless I get it made special)(may not work any way).

2.Buy a tap and re- tap the thread £20 ouch.

3.Borrow a tap from some one I can find that’s got one (M18x1.5).Any help please.

4. Cut off 10mm from end of shaft.

Any ideas, comments and suggestions most welcome.

Piddy.

[Guest daveg]

Piddy

 

Whenever I have a problem with tight fitting parts I use the oven (thats right the one in the kitchen)!

 

Warm up the female part and then the male part should screw in easy...

 

Hope that helps, it worth a try, but be careful handling the hot part

 

This always works for me.

 

Dave

[Longboarder]

Putting the male bit in the freezer helps a touch as well. Spot of copaslip and remember to screw it fastquick wearing gloves.

 

Nigel

[Guest piddy]

Thanks for that bit of advise.

I did think about heating the female part when I was at work today,but thought metal would expand and make it worse.

But I'll give it a try.

 

What will the wife say when she finds a ball joint in the freezer.

"Ball joint and chips for tea dear" or "what the *bleep*!" ?

 

 

 

Thanks Piddy.

[Guest Mr Pid]

Well if your Mrs is anything like mine, she would probably serve it up regardless!

 

If i then refused to eat what she had lovingly prepared than i have no doubt she would try and insert it in a slightly different and painful orifice.

 

Good luck

 

Stu

[Guest piddy]

Thanks Nigel and Dave.

This method worked atreat.

Piddy.