Ball Joint Wedge bolt

[don911]

I removed the ball joint wedge bolt in order to install my sway bar. I have a new wedge bold and nut but I can't get the new wedge bolt to go all the way in. The old bolt was flush with the strut. This one is still out about 1/8". I've been "tapping" on it but it will not go in any farther. I tried sucking it up with the nut but no luck.

The flat of the bolt is lined up with the cutout in the ball joint and I jacked the strut up/down to try and center the cut out in the hole.

Does the bolt have to be flush? If so, any suggestions?

[kstylianos]

Don,

I had the same problem, wedge bolt stuck out about 1/8 inch. Remove the wedge bolt and try to realign the ball joint pin the best you can in the strut housing. Its an interference fit but after some fiddling i got the wedge bolt a little more snug in the hole, not flush, but better than it was. DO NOT over torque the bolt to try and drive it in further as you can snap the threads off...ask me how I know. Antisieze on the bolt (not threads) will help with installation and removal later down the road. As long as the nut takes a bite of all the threads on the bolt, and you can torque to specs, you should be ok.

[nigel911]

Ball joints & tie rods, 2 of the great joys of Porsche ownership - particularly if neither have been replaced for many years...

Did all of mine late last year - the ball joint wedge bolt sits just (just) proud of of the strut. Did have the problem you are experiencing. I removed the wedge bolt by tapping it out from the other end with a punch, lightly greased it, slid it back it at what I hoped was the correct angle, pushed and tapped it into the strut then tightened up the nut - this seemed to help slide/turn the wedge bolt 'home' to its correct seating. Seems your bolt may not be at entirely the correct angle and 'sticking' rather than turning within the bore and therefore will not seat correctly. Try, try try again...

Good luck