Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 19:52:26 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Lower ball joint video's
In-Reply-To: <CAE_+Nq2-o8a_eLPbca_izHpXDy65mwKKqxp-5g6fo_YEgCLW=A@mail.gmail.com>
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Sometimes you get luck and they may come out with a big hammer. They are in there. I have needed a 20 ton press and then the torch on occasion. You also need some custom pieces to push and support that knuckle on the 2wd. When they finally pop the press jumps off the floor. Covering with a press blanket is a good idea. A 20 ton press can be had from Northern tool or such a place for around $300. Any shop doing suspension, bearings, u-joints, etc. should have one. The trick is all the special pieces for many jobs needed to use. It.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rob
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 11:24 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Lower ball joint video's
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
>
