Date:         Mon, 23 Dec 2002 08:31:06 -0700
Reply-To:     Sean Garrett <SEAN.GARRETT@ASU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sean Garrett <SEAN.GARRETT@ASU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Ball Joints
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Return argument point (to the "dissenting opinion" listed below)
If you cant determine what's spec (proper tools and experience to recognize
that) then you'll be spinning your wheels, literally (ha, pun). Also, for my
81 there was something really funky about mine and it required them to
machine a special press fitting to get mine in. The shop did not "take me"
either. Just the nature of the beast, sometimes complicated but not
difficult.

i.e. my 1995 EVC has listed 3 different front rotors listed for it. I did
not have the time so I let the shop do it. However some can, and have time
(Mike) and some don't (my case). To each his own

Sean Garrett
1981 Westy (his)
1995 Eurovan Camper (hers)
Soon... 1987 Syncro project
sean.garrett@asu.edu




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Snow [mailto:mwsnow@COX.NET]
> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 8:11 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Ball Joints
>
>
> Sean Garrett wrote:
> > I agree with Stan, send it out to a local shop. Mine took
> two days to
> > complete (over a weekend, so four days total).
> >
> > Sean Garrett
> > 1981 Westy (his)
> > 1995 Eurovan Camper (hers)
> > Soon... 1987 Syncro project
> > sean.garrett@asu.edu
> >
SNIP>
>
> And now, the dissenting opinion...
>
> It's a lot less expensive to remove the lower control arm yourself
> and take it to a machine shop to have new lower joints pressed in.
>   Mine took 4 HOURS vs. days.  A Bentley manual costs less than
> the labor for this job and should be in your toolbox anyway.  I
> think the shop charged about $40 labor to remove/install the lower
> ball joints.  A word of warning about ball joints, the first set
> of lower joints I bought (from a local VW shop) were out of spec
> and would not fit into the control arm.  Fortunately, a friend had
> a better quality set on hand.
>
> Mike Snow
>