Upper ball joint hex broke- any advice getting this back together?

[JimmyY]

Having a hard time with this UCA ball joint. Hex was rusted out and nylon bolt would not break away from the threads. Managed to bang a T35 up into the bolt to break the nut free- but in the process I snapped the T35 inside!!!
Can't drill or knock it out now. Think I can buy an equivalent bolt (M22 1.5)without nylon in order to torque it up without spinning the bolt? I already tried ratchet strapping it into place, but bolt kept spinning. This nylon bolt barely budges - obviously for safety, but damn.

I do need to get my grease gun to re-grease the boot.

Thanks !!

 

[Rover Range]

The hex stud should be held stationary while you turn the nut to loosen.
Never the other way around.

 

[JimmyY]

Yes, in that process is snapped off. I figure if I get a nut without nylon I won't get any movement on the bolt and I can torque it up. I'm going to try grinding it out today with the Dremel, fingers crossed I can punch a new hex head into it.

 

[16FujiDisco]

Can you try heating up the stud to see if it will swell just enough to pull out the broken bit?

 

[Rover Range]

An air/electric impact wrench will spin the nut fast enough to screw it all the way on.

 

[ftillier]

I must be missing something, but why is the next step not removing the ball joint and replacing it with a new one?

 

[JimmyY]

Upper ball joint is fine, I just had to remove it to replace CV axle. The nylon nut gets caught up too much to impact on. Are these meant to be a one time use ? Maybe I'll order a new nut. I torched the crap out of it today but no luck. I really banged up a T35 into stud to get it to hold, so it's jammed up there pretty good.

 

[Rover Range]

The nut can be reused. A new nut wouldn't be any easier to install.
Try taking a ratchet strap and compressing the ball joint stud into the spindle.
It may hold the stud enough to tighten the bolt.