HappyFather
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 10:33 AM |
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How to tighten steering links?
Hello,
Last night was tightening the front stuff on the Cortina hubs. The upper and lower ball joints were no problem. But I can't tighten the nut on
the transit drag link that connects the steering arms to the hubs. When I try to tighten the nut, the "bolt" rotates.
What is the trick to prevent the bolt from spinning? Why did this behave differently from the upper and lower ball joints?
Thanks for your help!
HappyFather
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40inches
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 10:46 AM |
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Try jacking up the joint to push it into the taper, just enough to stop it turning 
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rallyingden
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 10:49 AM |
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Make sure the taper is the correct one if so then clean both tapers, I give the link a tap with a rubber mallet and that usually holds but if it does
then spin put some pressure down on the link to engage the tapers better. This should only need to be by hand, if your taper still slips check you
have the correct one's
RD 
[Edited on 28/4/11 by rallyingden]
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nick205
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 10:50 AM |
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Try using a G-Clamp between the underside of the ball joint and the opposing face of the upright to pull the ball joint into the taper, then fit and
tighten the nut. Alternatively give it a (gentle) knock with a hammer to seat the joint in the taper. Sometimes helps to fit a plain nut first to
pull the joint into the taper, then fit the Nyloc nut.
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jeffw
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 11:30 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
Try jacking up the joint to push it into the taper, just enough to stop it turning
+1
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 28/4/11 at 11:41 AM |
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both the taper and the hole much be spotlessly clean any oil film will cause it to slip.
One trick is to tighten it up first with and ordinary nut, tighten it up, then take that off and put on the nyloc
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HappyFather
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| posted on 1/5/11 at 09:30 PM |
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Hello, all!
Only today I got some time on the car again to try your ideas.
Since I didn't have a jack handy, tried putting my knee under the steering link and applying upwards force and it was enough to stop the
spinning!!! I now have both nuts tight and that task is done.
Thank you all for your help and ideas! Have a great bank holiday,
HappyFather
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nick205
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| posted on 3/5/11 at 12:02 PM |
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That's what we're here for 
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AndyGT
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| posted on 3/5/11 at 12:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by HappyFather
Hello, all!
Only today I got some time on the car again to try your ideas.
Since I didn't have a jack handy, tried putting my knee under the steering link and applying upwards force and it was enough to stop the
spinning!!! I now have both nuts tight and that task is done.
Thank you all for your help and ideas! Have a great bank holiday,
HappyFather
Make sure the car is VERY stable when you are doing that, if it slips off the jack/axle stands it will make a mess if your leg/legs..
I never kneel next to the car on a jack for this reason and IF I have to, I always work quickly and be ready to move
Safe Locosting!!!
nothing is impossible
everything is possible
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britishtrident
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 05:39 PM |
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With the top joint just a bar to lever the top wishbone down into the taper to generate some friction -- as already mention clean any
paint/oil/crap off both male and female halves of the taper joint first.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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