Ball Joint Bolts

[dgs]

Assembling my ball joints to my control arms and have bolt & nut questions.

Does it matter which way the bolt goes in (top down or bottom up)?

The nuts for the upper have a conical shape to one side (like a lug nut), does it matter which way they are installed? (The nuts for the lower are flat on both sides).

Thanks,

[6TB1RD]

The nut always goes flat side to the washer.

As for the bolts I would put them in the way the old ones came out.

[dgs]

The nut always goes flat side to the washer.

That's what I was thinking, but then I thought about lug nuts that use the conical side to center the bolt in the opening. I put 'em flat side down.

As for the bolts I would put them in the way the old ones came out.

Well, the uppers were riveted in, so that doesn't apply. I can't remember how the lowers were, but I do have pictures. Looks like the nuts were on the bottom of the arm.

[6TB1RD]

Nut Down

Sense your replacing rivets then put the nut side down. and always use grade 8 bolts for your suspension some will tell you grade 5 is safe but for about .75 cents more a bolt 8 is even safer.

For even more added security look in to cotter pin bolts (or if you have a drill press and a way to drill them do them your self) but at the least use self locking nuts. the ones with the nylon inserts work great, But remember never reuse them!

[uhcrandy]

Are there other nuts than the "nylock" type? I did not thinks they were up to grade 5 or 8 standards?

[6TB1RD]

You can get some lock nuts at Your local Napa store, they look like they are damaged because they are out of round and the compression on the bolt keeps them locked in place. these are the type the auto dealers used stock. and they to are single use only.

Some of the nuts you pull from your bird if they are stock nuts will be these. I just rebuilt the control valve on mine and the nut I took of was one of the off set nuts. the one I put on from the kit was a nylock.