Date:         Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:50:18 -0400
Reply-To:     Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Fun with lower ball Joints
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

First of all I want to say thank you to the list member who posted this
write up with pictures of the lower ball joint work:
http://californiavan.com/frontend/80-84lowerballjoints/

It was a big help.  I tried for about a day to install the new lower
ball joints without the kit that this person recommends and it was
futile.  I have an addendum to his work which I would like to share that
way other folks might benefit.  He references a kit that you need to buy
or rent in order to do the removal and install.  This is absolutely
essential if you are to do this job.  I could not find it to rent
anywhere and I only found it for sale at advanceauto.com for $159 (part
number 648617).  I actually had part of the tool already from Harbor
Freight and they had another kit that I thought would finish out the
kit.  I was right.  If you want to buy this kit in two parts from Harbor
Freight you will want kits number 38335 for $59.95 and kit number 66958
for $89.95 ($149.95 for both so slightly cheaper than Advance and if one
is more convenient than the other, just go with that).

Another thing I would like to mention is using an air gun to tighten the
press versus doing it by hand.  This thing gets so tight that I tried
installing one side by hand and not only did I wear myself out, but it
took a long time and never did seat fully.  I used my air gun which I
use for removing lug nuts, etc. and I installed the second lower ball
joint in about thirty seconds with virtually no effort on my part.  Way
nicer.

Of course for most people the best way to go when installing these is to
take the whole spindle to a machine shop and have them do it.  That is
what I have been doing for the past 13 years.  However I really wanted
to be able to do this job myself, not only to say I did it, but also in
case I have a customer who shows up on a holiday or a weekend and the
machine is closed for several days.  I hate being held up, when I could
be getting things done.  I hope this helps others who are thinking about
doing this job themselves.

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242