Ungodly torque applied to lower ball joint nut?

While attempting to replace the tie rod end due to a broken boot, I found that the tie rod was completely fused with rust to the lower ball joint arm (see red rectangle in pic). You can see that I completely annihilated the remainder of the boot with a pickle fork. I thus decided to just replace the whole lower ball joint.

The nut wouldn't budge. Finally, while putting my entire body weight into the nut with a breaker bar, the socket actually broke. See pics. WTF?

I had the frame replaced at the Dealer a few months back; they replaced the lower control arms and thus removed and reinstalled this nut. Did they apply some Herculean amount of torque to this? Does this sound normal?

 

Is it a shitty socket? I've broken a socket or two on lesser bolts... (front tow hook). Upper ball joint is 80ft-lbs. can't see it being much more than that.

 

How long is the bar you're trying to loosen it with?
What brand socket?
Do you even lift bro?

 

not normal, some asshat used an impact gun, hammered away.

 

I don't know the brand. I've had the set for years, taken off a lot of tight shit with them. I don't think it's a crappy socket.

 

The breaker is two feet. yes, I lift, thanks for asking! could you tell me where the gym is?

http://www.smootfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/61584926.jpg

 

so...do I break another socket or take it back to the dealer that installed it and insist they loosen it? Anyone know the correct torque for the lower ball joint nut?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/torque-values-at-lower-ball-joint-steering-knuckle.18169/

It looks like some things might have gotten tweaked when what appears to be a huge tree fell on your truck

 

thanks, great link. so I guess correct torque for the lower 103lbs.

i may not lift every day, as itchyfeet pointed out, but I definitely applied way more than 105 ft-lbs with my 2-ft breaker when I broke the socket. these aren't by any chance reverse threads are they?

touche'

 

No.

Just for piece of mind:

 

ever get it off OP?

 

i did:
i heated the shit out of the nut, let it soak overnight in PB blaster, soaked it again this morning, bought a set of metrics from harbor freight ( ), heated the shit out of it again when I got back, and then used the same 2-ft breaker bar with the new 24mm socket. It came loose. maybe the socket that broke was just poor quality?

 

Looked a little thin, might have been more than that socket wanted to do on a Friday. It is nice to have a set of impact sockets for just such an occasion. Good luck with the other side!

 

To much information for me.

 

Nothing like heat, lube and busting a stubborn nut loose to start a Saturday.

 

a 2' breaker bar would only require 51.5 lbs. of force to break if proper torqued. He prob. put at least that on it.
Science! Yo!

 

That was even a 6 point socket, which is usually more durable than a 12. I've broken SK and Craftsman sockets using less force. Sometimes, it's just a bad casting.

 

it could be worse... you could have spun the taper of the BJ in its seat and STILL not get the nut loose!

 

what do you mean by spun the taper?

 

I think he means the tapered surface between the ball joint bolt and the spindle that hold it in place while you torque it down. If the bolt torque overcame the frictional force on the tapered surface then you'd have a spinning bolt with a stuck nut. Cutting wheel would have come out