Upper ball joint gone bad, how to replace?

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: 1999 10th anniversary mk2
  2. I’m based near: Bristol
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Upper ball joint gone bad.

Hello, I have had to take off the axle on the front side as I had to drill out a bolt for the abs sensor. This has now been done.

But I now have the problem of the ball joints being bad and not being able to put the castle nuts onto the ball joint as the ball joints are just free spinning. I have jacked up the bottom ball joint as far as I can and got a pry bar and applied pressure to the upper arm, to try and put as much resistance against the joint to stop it from spinning, but no luck. I have already replaced the bottom one because of the same problem, and I am just wondering how to get the top one done cause I don’t not have a press and don’t really want to just buy a new arm if possible?

IMG_0880
IMG_08803024×4032 3.45 MB

IMG_0879
IMG_08793024×4032 2.8 MB

IMG_0878
IMG_08783024×4032 2.97 MB

2

All I can suggest is that you get the jack under as in your last picture and ‘lift’ the car so you have the most weight on the joint then get someone to hit the top of the ball joint with a heavy hammer and you turn the nut at exactly the same time as the blow is made. Use a block of wood to protect the joint.
Good luck.
:heart:

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3

Thank you for the help, I will give a try now.

4

No luck unfortunately, I believe that the threads on the castle nut might be bad so I have ordered and new one. If this does not work what would you recommend if I have to replace the ball joint? (Replace the arm or try and find a way to remove the current ball joint)

5

I had a similar problem… i just cut the arms of with a sabre saw and replaced everything … far less hassle and quicker too … and i would loosen suspension components when they are under load

6

I have tried loosening the suspension, sounds like I may need to dump the college student wage on a new arm then lol.

7

I would take the pin out and make sure that the nut is screwing on easily. You can hold the pin in mole grips as long as you protect the tapered surface.

If you are reluctant to change the whole arm then as a last resort and I do mean last resort you could get a punch and deface the taper. I remember having to do this with Mini wheel bearings as they all seemed to be just the wrong size for the stub axle.
:heart:
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