I recently put new wheel hubs on my R53 and was going to install a new ball joint buy when I went to screw the 2 13mm bolts into the knuckle they will not tighten up. What are my options other than buying a new knuckle!?

 

Options are:

Used knuckle, heli-coil, new knuckle, or maybe re-thread to the next size larger bolt size......

I assume that when you say the "2 13mm bolts", that you are referring to the socket size for the head of the bolt, not the actual bolt thread size, which I think is either 8mm or 10mm........

Bryan

 

Yes 13mn is the socket size I think the bolt is a M10 x1.0. I think I'll attempt the heli coil option first.

 

yup, I think helicoil is what I would do. If that goes wrong for some reason, here's another option. https://www.allmagautoparts.com/prod...21cd2174&_ss=r

 

I'm not sure I would want a helicoil on a critical suspension piece. Ball joints are not expensive. You can pick up a Bilstein on PartsGeek for $25.

 

The ball joint is not the issue; the bolts thread into the knuckle, and that is the part that would need replaced.

 

The ball joint threads are in the knuckle, not the ball joint itself......the two bolts just go through the ball joint up into the knuckle, that's where the threads are

Bryan

 

A new control arm is $53 thru the same source. I've never used a helicoil so I'm not sure of their strength but for less than $100 you can replace the entire assembly and have some peace of mind.

 

Just realized that you're talking about the "carrier" when you say knuckle. Given that so many suspension pieces attach to this, including the hub/bearing, I would be very hesitant to jury-rig it with a helicoil. A used carrier might be your best option.

 

Again, it's not the ball joint or the lower control arm, it's the knuckle that the ball joint presses into.....the bolts are there just to keep the ball joint from popping down and back out....there is no real suspension load on the two ball joint bolts......a good heli-coil kit will be just fine

Bryan