CSprain

I am almost done installing my 2.5" leveling kit on my 2006 F-150 4 x 4. I am having issues tightening the upper ball joints. Do you have any advice on tightening the ball joints? What tools/techniques should I use? The ball joints keep spinning. I think I may install new ball joints soon but want to finish this project then do them in a few weeks. Pictures are attached.

RA010223

Are you tightening using an impact gun? I am able to just hit with the impact and it tightens right up, I also have the thread locker plastic out of my nuts. Just took a plumber torch and melted it out so I could get the nuts off so I probably have less resistance. If you could get the taper on the ball joint shaft to lock in the top of the knuckle a little that would really help as well. Maybe put a jack or a stand under the LCA and hit the UCA down with a hammer to get the taper locked. Never had your issue so these are just some ideas. More will chime in im sure.

rubbinsracin

When I did mine I used an impact and it still spun, so I jacked up on the lower control arm and then tightened up the nut with ease.

donbun68

Do as mentioned above or take a pry bar and pry down on UCA forcing ball joint into knuckle then tighten nut.

powerranger262

Yep, it actually should say to do this in the instructions.

kennethalan

When I did it, I didn't have an impact gun. I had an issue with it all wanting to spin. I grabbed a hold of the ball joint that was spinning with a set of vise grips. That allowed the nut to tighten all the way up the threads and get completely tight. I

CSprain

Okay I don't have an air tank yet, I'm looking to buy one soon. I wanted to know an impact would work before I went through the hassle of borrowing one. I will borrow one and tighten it up. I already tried the jack under the LCA when I was using a vise grips. Thanks for the help guys.

powerranger262

You still have to pry that uca down.

PNW EFFONEFIFTY

In the second picture you posted it looks like you tore your ball joint boot open. If so, i'd replace it while you're already into it.

Have your truck on jack stands, put your floor jack under the lower control arm and jack it up a little bit till you have the ball joint inside enough to put the nut on the threads finger tight. I had to use vise grips to clamp the ball joint above the arm (on the shaft of the ball joint bolt) and use an open end wrench (21mm) to tighten the nut below. Once you get enough threads showing you need to move the vise grips down to the bottom where you can see the flat spots on the end of the ball joint bolt and finish tightening the nut completely. This works like a charm.

PNW EFFONEFIFTY

People should also know that it's not even necessary to unbolt the UCA ball joint, only the tie rod end. I did my passenger side first and unbolted the UCA ball joint and then realized I didn't even need to. The driver side I only unbolted the tie rod end and the strut assembly slid right out and re-installed the same.