Lower ball joint replacement

[96terrano]

I ordered a ns lower ball joint for my t2 from eBay because it's well and truly past it. I want to know if it's a job that I could do at home or if it's a specialist job needing to be done at a garage.

Thanks

 

[spudd]

Very easy job.did my 96 for mot.few grunts but straight forward.

 

[clivvy]

I did my MX3 lower ball joint myself in the back garden. ok, smaller car, but much less space to work. I used a rather long heavy metal pole, slotted it between the wishbone and chassis, and gave it a proper heave-ho and popped it. It can be tricky as it will try to pop back in unless you fully pop it out. Loosen the balljoint nut too infact, remove it as you dont want to damage it (this is the nut that tightens up the clamp that the top of the balljoint sits in), I may even have prised the clamp open a touch.

definately a DIY job though, just make 100% sure the car is stable and well supported, because you are really going to heave that joint off (my MX3 wobbled somewhat, quite unnerving)

once out, replace the joint and re position into the hub, when I did my mx3, at this point, I removed one of the hub retaining bolts to allow a bit of movement-this made it a heck of a lot easier re fitting the new joint.

good luck!

 

[clivvy]

in fact, this is one of the videos I used before I did mine..

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2331867_how-remove-ball-joint-stud.html

 

[spudd]

the bottom ball joint bolts to the wishbone.remove with ball joint seperator, then undo 4 bolts to wishbone now comes the difficult bit, but not very.you have to remove auto hub, undo nut to drive shaft and push drive shaft back to remove bolts holding wishbone.then rebolt new ball joint and refit, simples.

 

[96terrano]

Thanks for the help, ill just need to wait for the bloody thing to come now

 

[redthing]

top ball joint just as easy??