Upper ball joints (I know, I know... Again!)

[Stu]

I know everyone say's these must be done on the car, I know it's the best advice but... What's the reasoning?

The whole assembly including discs is off the car at the moment. Intact, but off the car. We're replacing all the bushings at once, so the temptation is massive to do them off the car. The UCA bushings are a PITA anyway, so was going to press them out off the car.

Before a monumental cock up is made, what are the reasoned arguments for and against, please? Just want to understand fully why people what they say before lousing it up!

[MrNorm]

The reason people recommend doing the upper balljoints in the car is that the control arms are held securely and correctly in position and can't get distorted like they can if you hold them in something else (e.g. a vice) with enough force to stop them moving while you install the ball joints.....
It can be done out of the car, but easier to do in the car.

BTW, you know they screw in, right - don't try and press them (I'm sure you do but better safe than sorry!)

[Pete]

They don't press out, they unscrew.

Do it on the car. Don't argue.

Piece of Bananarama!, 10 minute job.

[Stu]

Yes, cheers Gavin. I posted a thread not so long back panicking that they'd come through with no thread on. Now it's just panicking that they all come with such a crap thread to hold it all together!

[Stu]

They don't press out, they unscrew.

Do it on the car. Don't argue.

Piece of Bananarama!, 10 minute job.

I know Pete, cheers. Meant pressing the UCA bushings out, not the ball joint!

10 minute job... It's taken 48 hours to get the K frame out and undo half the bolts that's needed. The rest are still stuck firm on the car!

It's just the temptation of seeing them sitting there...

[Philth]

Stu - if you think you're getting into strife with the ball joints (they've been on there some time!) then pop them along to an engineering shop. They should be able to do the job for you with air tools, etc. without damage tot he arms

[Pete]

With the UCA bushes, use a chop saw on the old ones first to reduce the length you have to push out. Lubricate the new ones and press in with a big vice.

20 minute job.

Get on with it.

[Pete]

Roydon and I stripped and rebuilt the front end of his car in 3 1/2 hours.

That had been standing for an eternity.

[Stu]

Do you do housecalls, Pete.

[Pete]

Yes, it will be £5k.

I take Paypal.

[Pete]

I lied.

It took us longer as Roydon had to take the LCa's to a local garage to use the press. However, in terns of dismantle & re-assembly it did not take very long.........

[Anonymous]

Could always burn em out with a blow lamp/accetylene torch , cuts the job in half again , did all mine in 1 1/2 hours.



Cutting through the bull sh$$$t , tis a pig of a job & we all know that , good luck.

[Stu]

You ain't wrong Adam!

We do know a fella with a press and air tools, so is this an acceptable way forward with the kit off the car?

The biggest pain in the arse at the moment is trying to get the upper control arm away from the chassis on the passenger (Drivers to you lot, RHD! ) side. Got the nuts of, no massive problems, but cant shift the bolts through to release it. Doesn't matter how much pounding, teasing, penetrating fluid or what, they ain't shifting.

[Pete]

Once the UCA bolts come loose you have to remove them in sequence from memory as one will foul the other.

Get some heat on it, that will help; after all you are not worried about the rubber

[Stu]

You're very right Pete, they have to be done one at a time.

ONE would be NICE at this time...

Adam, Pete, heat it is as a next attempt, methinks.