Top Ball Joint Replacement

[jims-terrano]

Can anyone give me some tips on replacing the top ball joint on a Terrano please.

 

[solarman216]

Jack it up and remove the wheel, put a stand under it keeping the hub fully drooped, undo the taper pin nut but leave it on a few turns, go off and have a cuppa, 9 times out of ten the torsion bar tension will separate the joint for you, if not and you have a wedge type separator then use that otherwise use two hammers one from each side,the top bolts will almost certainly shear so you will need new ones, fit the new one, job done, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

That doesn’t sound too bad thanks Rick. In theory it should all separate dead easy as it was replaced last year. The problem with it is that the rubber boot is ripped, I’m assuming the idiots that made a mess of it last year must of damaged the boot.
Do you think the bolts will be anything special or just standard bolts?

 

[solarman216]

That doesn’t sound too bad thanks Rick. In theory it should all separate dead easy as it was replaced last year. The problem with it is that the rubber boot is ripped, I’m assuming the idiots that made a mess of it last year must of damaged the boot.
Do you think the bolts will be anything special or just standard bolts?

I would think they will be high tensile given their position, but if it was done last year then they should come out easy, just remember Rustic's advice backwards and forwards till they are turning easy, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

I would think they will be high tensile given their position, but if it was done last year then they should come out easy, just remember Rustic's advice backwards and forwards till they are turning easy, Rick

Cheers, no always use that technique and almost hear him saying it too.

 

[solarman216]

A grand guy and am so pleased I met him, Rick

 

[RJL Services]

when i replaced both my top joints it came with new bolts :thumb2

 

[perelaar]

Don't bother with saving the bolts, they will most likely be corroded anyway. Kit I ordered for my T2 last year had the bolts included, high tensile indeed.

I used a ball joint splitter, everything came apart without issue.

 

[Banshee]

I always think it's false economy personally now to get under the truck with the intentions of only doing 1 job like that. Maybe that's because i'm a little more confident taking the spanners out to one of these things now because I'm tinkering so frequently.

I'd personally do the uppers and lowers at the same time, while you're there also pay some attention to the steering stops. Even if it's just a blob of grease, I'm using chair leg floor protectors at the moment that I get for 40p each from a hardware shop in Warwick :thumb2