How to Remove a Retaining Nut on Trucks

Part of the Video Series How to Replace a Truck Ball Joint

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Learn how to remove your cotter pin and your retaining nut in this free auto repair and car maintenance video clip.

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Video Transcript

How to Remove a Retaining Nut on Trucks
Hi my name is Nate McCullough on behalf of Expert Village. In the following clips we're going to talk about the correct procedure for replacing your upper and lower ball joints on a two wheel drive full size vehicle. In this clip we're going to talk about removal of the cotter pin and retaining nut on your upper ball joint. As you can see I have my replacement upper ball joint here. I'm going to take the nut off and show you the hole that our cotter pin goes through. There's a hole right there, that is a safety feature to keep that nut from working it's way loose over time. The cotter pin inserts through the castle nut into that hole and is bent down. I'm going to go ahead and remove the one that is factory installed right now. The tool I like to use is a pair of wire cutters. They can apply an amazing amount of grip to something like a cotter pin and they work great for removing them. Alright and that is the proper way to remove your cotter pin. You take and break loose the retaining nut right now. Ok I'm going to slip my socket onto the upper ball joint retaining nut and break it loose. Your going to continue ratcheting your socket wrench until the nut comes off. Your new ball joint should come with a new fastening nut and cotter pin so you don't have to worry about saving those components. You continue ratcheting until it comes off and we're just about there. And that is the proper method for removal of your cotter pin and the retaining nut also referred to as a castle nut. As you can see it looks like the ramparts of a castle.

About the Expert

Expert: Nathan McCullough graduated from Nashville Auto-Diesel College and worked at varies automotive facilities including management for the last 8 years. He has many certifications. Read More