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Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 2015 09:24:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Lower ball joint video's
Comments: To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <CANEuo0gn+FF7Z-zUPoZxWtU=SD0mvx5-mDx8w9yK82WaivQtjw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I worked at a front end shop in northern Minnesota for 5 years, had one Vanagon in during that time & all it needed was an alignment. During that 5 years I did a lot of ball joints, all with a hammer, vice, drifts & sockets. Often used the torch to get the parts free of the vehicle (rust).. We on occasion had people bring a knuckle in because the book said to take it to a shop & have them press the ball joints out & back in, the boss would tell them to come back in a couple of hours & we'd use "the press" (me, at the bench with the vice & 5# hammer) while they were gone.

I have never had to change a Vanagon lower ball joint, is is really that special or is like the rest of the press in/out ball joints in the world?

Rob vwrobb@gmail.com

On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 7:13 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) < kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> John, doing front end work is my (current) least favorite thing to do on > the van. Usually folks never have it done because it is expensive and when > it finally gets done all of the bolts are seized, etc. As Dennis said, I > would think about the front end as a unit with the brakes included. If you > are going to do a brake job, inspect the front end parts at the same time > and if they are worn out then just plan on doing everything at the same > time. It will save you time and money not having to take things apart > twice. Here in the North East the bolts for the lower control arms will be > frozen and need to be cut out with a sawzall or grinder, the radius rod > bushings will be completely shot and even the hole in the frame for them > could be rusted out larger than it should be. It is a big job and if it > were me, I would leave it to a shop unless you have all of the tools and a > 10 ton hydraulic press (lower ball joints). I don't think you will find a > video on the lower ball joints because I don't recommend that folks do them > on their own. It is impossible without a large press so at the very least > you would take the front upright to a machine shop and have them press the > old ones out and the new ones in. They will charge you $100 and then > complain that it was super difficult and they lost money on the job. Hey > at least you didn't waste time and effort trying to do it and then still > wound up taking it to them. > > Never used the T3 Technique bushings yet. I know it would make doing the > front and rear lower control arm bushings way easier (I super hate doing > those). But they are quite a bit more expensive (at this point 10 times). > Are they 10 time better besides the install? > > Ken > > On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 10:19 PM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > Anybody got a link to vanagon lower ball joint replacement? > > > > John > > > > > > -- > Thanks, > Ken Wilford > John 3:16 > www.vanagain.com >


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