Has anyone got any tips on how to tighten the top balljoint nut up. I can't get the taper to hold in and as I try to tighten the nut the bajoint spins in its housing. I'm using westfield alloy uprights which are the same as the cortina setup.

Thanks

a gentle tap with a rubber faced hammer might help the taper to seat propoerly.

IIRC they dont have to be done up incredibly tight...cant remember the exact figure, but its about equal to a good yank on a spanner.

Try giving it it gentle tap into the taper with a soft hammer to see if it will lock, then do up the nut...

[edit] beaten to it

David

[Edited on 13/5/05 by flak monkey]

Wipe the external and internal tapers with a non oily solvent such as meths, celulose thinners, acetone, nail varnish remover or petrol after it dries fit and tighten , presssing home the taper with a lever as you tighten the nut.

If that doen't work tighten the taper using a plain nut then swap for the nyloc.

Thanks guys

I tried tapping it not so gentle with a mallet but it wouldn't hold.

Best bet sounds looks like using a plain nut first.

Cheers

Scratch up the taper on the bj a bit by squeezing it with a big pair of grips. A bodge but it works well

Are you sure the tapers are compatible? If they are, then the way I used to initially tighten troublesom balljoints was to cut or file a shallow slot on the end of the stud threads and hold the stud from rotating with a screwdriver.
Some better quality balljoints actually have an in-hex in the ends of the studs so you can hold them with an Allen key.