How to Remove a Ball Joint Pinch Bolt

Video Transcript

"In this clip, we're going to talk about the proper service procedure in order to remove and replace a broken CV joint also known as a drive shaft on a front-wheel drive vehicle. In this clip, we're going to talk about the proper service procedure for removing your ball joint pinch bolt. What I have here is a 14 millimeter socket. The size will vary from make and model. A long three-eighths extension and my three-eighths ratchet. It?s a lefty loosey, righty tighty kind of bolt. This bolt right here is the ball joint pinch bolt. Some vehicles have them, some vehicles mount with a different style. The reason why they call it a pinch bolt is the ball joint stud slides through the spindle in an upwards direction. The bolt then takes and squeezes the spindle tight around the stud of the ball joint. I'm going to go ahead and spin it off for you. The pinch bolt is going to be located on the top of the lower portion of the spindle. I'm going to continue ratcheting it until the bolt comes all they way off. You may need to place a wrench on the other side of the bolt to hold the retainer as you unscrew it. Most of the time they are seized up and corroded and will hold themselves in place. Alright, just continue ratcheting it until you have the retaining nut off of the bolt. You can then take and tap the bolt through with a small hammer and maybe a screwdriver if you need one. Alright, there is the retaining nut. I'll set that in my magnetic tray for later installation. Your new CV shaft will not come with a new nut for the ball joint that is. And there is the pinch bolt right there. That is the proper service procedure for removing your ball joint pinch bolt."