Control Arm Install

[KFL]

I'm replacing my front/rear lower control arms OEM. Got the front one in place,etc. but is the main nut holding the bushing spins freely after turning so there is minor play, must I use a air gun to spin it faster?or replace the locking nut with a new one?

[s13sr20chris]

im sorry i am drawing a blank. what kind of car and which nut?

[180fan]

KFL, are you referring to the castle nut (shaped like a rook in chess)? It has a cotter pin through it (looks like a bobby pin with one or both legs bent)?

[KFL]

Yep, I looked at the rear one that I didnt mount yet. Basically the nut goes over the thread and after it spins a few times the ball joint will spin thus the nut will not lock all the way. Do you just use a impact socket/wrench. There is very little room to work with since the shock is in the way. The front doesn't look too bad but the rear lower control arm seems a bit more crowded.

[180fan]

The rear, I think you might just have to take an impact to it. It's been a while since I last mucked about there, but I do vaguely remember the ball joint causing some rotation in the joint but not to the point where I couldn't remove the nut. In removing the nut I'd just use an impact wrench if you're having that problem also might want to check on the joint too, it might have too much play in it or maybe the joint's not all the way in the knuckle on the suspect joint. Might want to hit the threads with some WD-40 or some PB Blaster a bit before going further.

[s13sr20chris]

i would try using an impact. all the speed in the world wont do it you need the heavy impacts of an air powered impact wrench(no a cheap turd either).