Spinning Bolt

[gaz1250]

Ive got a bolt that spins at the back when I try tightening it up on my anti roll bar mounting Ive tried holding it with a normal spanner as i tightem but this wont work. Ive heard you can but a special tool for these kind of bolts but I dont know what its called?

[xx marti xx]

It depends why the spanner isn't working.Is it a bad fit and the bolt spins in its jaws ???
You could try self a gripping type of spanner if this is the case.Try "Mole grips" or "Stilsons".Mole grips actually lock on to whatever you want them to !

[gaz1250]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-COURIER-ESCORT-FIES TA-KA-PUMA-FRONT-DROP-LINK-RODS_W0QQitemZ29009 8742753QQcategoryZ21654QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1 QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting this is what trying to tighten. Has anybody here ever fitted these on a Ford Escort if so what size socket/spanner etc was used please?

[mr rusty]

A picture tells a thousand words, as tne saying goes! I've never done these specific ones, but I see your problem, it's a balljoint. There is no special tool as such: the difficulty is caused by the fact that the nuts appear to be nylocs -a plastic collar inside the nut who's purpose is to prevent the nut coming undone in service.

This plastic collar grips the threads, and so this also makes it difficult to do the nut up because of course you can't hold the other side of a balljoint.......it looks from the pic that there's a hex head just above the rubber boot, which is what you need to get a grip on with a slim spanner while you tighten the nyloc.

Failing that, another option is to apply as much pressure as possible to the other side of the balljoint, and this type of thing can often be dealt with by fitting it with the car on stands, and then lowering it to the ground to load up the suspension, and then tightening the nuts.

[xx marti xx]

If your throwing away your old ones,cut through the nut that way you will be able to drop the ball joint out.As the taper is spinning you should not need a ball joint splitter coz its already loose.If you want to keep the old ones try,as mr rusty says,to apply as much force to the opposite side of the ball joint,effectivley making the taper in the ball joint grip harder which will enable you to undo the retaining nut.You could also try a blow torch which will melt the nylon in the nylock nut !(it also helps the taper come loose!!
Good luck!