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Crash due to lower Ball Joint nut...

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Clement

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi all,
Sorry for my poor english but I am a French guy...
I just had an accident this week-end on my 68 camaro.
While driving, I have lost the castle nut that normally block the lower joint ball on my spindle...
You can imagine the result...
Control arm, lower ball joint and bushings have been changed 2 months ago by a shop.
When looking at the joint ball, I have found the rest of the cotter pin (that has been cut by the nut...)
The shop asks me to bring back the car but I wonder how that can happen...
I was with my little girl and 3 of her friends when it happened... not so confident anymore about the next drive... ;(
The front fender has obviously suffered...
Thank your for your advice
Clement

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#2 ·
Unless they tried to tighten or loosen the nut with the cotter pin in place I’m not sure how that could happen. More pics might help.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
sorry, I cannot take pic as I dont have the car at home since the accident.
I wonder if it can be the hole of the spindle that is worn... and therefore, the nut could "stick" to it then turning ?
 
#7 ·
With the amount of force it takes to separate a ball joint, I can't imagine it coming loose. Maybe when assembled the tech forgot to properly set the castle nut tight, and just put the cotter pin in. If there was play in the ball joint pin maybe the repeated pounding forced the castle nut to turn.
 
#8 ·
Tens of millions of cars on the road with cotter pins in castle nuts...failure is highly unlikely. Not impossible, but I'd think you would have a better chance of hitting the lottery once a month for the rest of this year than have one fail UNLESS improperly installed.
 
#9 ·
Clement said:
The shop asks me to bring back the car but I wonder how that can happen...


View attachment 286286 ≈
Click to expand...
DOUG G said:
than have one fail UNLESS improperly installed.
Click to expand...
OP

from this side of the internet...the chances of your failure are more due to improper installation. They did not seat the ball joint properly into the A arm. IMHO, would be the most likely cause of your issue. I would have a close look at the other side if the same shop installed ball joints on both side (should have)

With that said, it is possible for the A arm to crack where the hole for ball joint is and that would loosen the ball joint and under stress and driving maybe the cotter pin fails under this movement, castle nut comes off and boom....although I suspect the install being more likely

Glad you and the children were not hurt, most importantly. The car can be fixed
 
#10 ·
I think Mr Good Pliers was absent on torque day.
That’s got to be a lack of appropriate torque applied, as was pointed out. It can be a real test of patience to un seat a properly torqued tapered joint.
In 42 years of doing my own I have never lost a castle nut. I have however over torqued every fastener at some point…..which is not a good idea either.
 
#12 ·
#17 ·
Clement, I do not have a front spindle, but do have some extra ball joints, castle nuts. If the spindle is still good, and you need new ball joints, send me a message. I can send the parts to you, just cover the postage. I'm not far from Forbach. Can't help with the fender either.
 
#18 ·
Dang, that is a scary situation, Clement. At least everyone is OK... cars can be fixed. I agree with the others, though... that cotter pin should have never sheared off. Good luck!
 
#19 ·
As said more than likely was installed improperly. Perhaps castle nut was beyound the hole and cotter was sitting above the groove to where nut just backed off. Having been in the trades, I have seen many improper setups over the years.
Had a similiar situation on a brand new Ford pick up back in 93. Front end had a clunk when turning lock to lock. Ford decides to realign the front end and replace some parts. Picked up the truck on a Friday, and hooked up my 26' RV trailer for a 14 day 5k mile family vacation with my young son. That night while washing the truck I had this notion to look under front bumper, and noticed NO cotter pins on the tie rod ends, the holes were not even lined up with the nut. Grabbed my wrench to align and they were finger tight.Imagine the results that couldve been.
 
#20 ·
The only way I can see the cotter pin getting sheared off is if the ball joint and shaft are seized in the joint itself but able to spin free in the spindle, and the nut got turned by the spindle when turning the steering wheel. It would take a LOT of force.
 
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