My '98 XJ8L needs lower ball joints replaced and I hope to get to it this weekend.
Question is this: as the upper bj's grease boots are cracked pretty bad, I plan to do them as well. Is the job easiest by removing front hub entirely and then replacing the bj's or leaving one attached while working the other?

 

The ball joints are attached to the upper and lower control arms. You can remove the upper control arm from the car easily to replace the upper ball joint. To remove the lower control arms you must remove the spring, which is very difficult, to change lower the ball joint out of the car. Either way you will need to remove part of the lower ball joint rim to be able to press out the old one.

You can replace the lower ball joint with the lower control arms in place if you use an extra heavy duty C clamp press. You need to keep support under the control arms so that they do not pivot down and allow the spring to shoot out. If you leave the shock connected to the lower control arms it will hold the arms from dropping down.

 

Hi
Here are 2 threads you should look at:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...s-66605/page2/

DIY with photo and instructions (see post 1).

Then there is this one that gives information on front & rear ball joints:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...acement-55392/

Look at posts 2 and 4.

Jim Lombardi