My mechanic removed the lower control arm ball joint but is questioning his ability to press the new one in. He is good in that he will not do anything out of his comfort zone until we talk. I was under the impression that in lieu of a $500 new control arm pressing an aftermarket ball joint in was not a big deal. Any tricks that he and I should know about?

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes he is correct in questioning how to do it correctly and an FYI Jaguar will not press the lower ball joint they will only install the complete unit. If I recall we had another member with the same problem but he was successful in pressing the ball joint. You should do a search on the topic. I had an inspection by Jaguar and they told me I needed to replace them. I wanted a second opinion and when I got it in the air and we found that they were just fine. Good Luck!

This might help https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...hlight=control

 

The lower arm is shaped in a way that it is very difficult to get a firm grip on when using a press to remove the balljoint. If you had a fixture to hold the arm that would be one thing, but trying to stack up some metal bar on a press bed is tough, and dangerous. When I did my front end rebuild, all the pieces were reused and/or rebuilt with new rubber and bushings .. except the lower control arm. Those two items were purchased new.

 

I thought it was you Gordo who did the frontend work.

 

No that was the one piece I couldn't rebuild. We did the upper ball joints, and even the replaced the lower shock bushing (before buying a new shock). Anything is possible, but I can understand why his mechanic doesnt want to tackle that job. There is no flat perpendicular shelf to grip the piece from and the balljoint rim edge is very narrow. With a couple of tons pressing on an unstable foundation is not something an experienced mechanic wants to do.

 

Sorry Gordo I could not recall for sure if you did the lowers.

 

You guys are the best...

I don't mind spending the money if there are no viable alternatives available. Thank you for the experience and the feedback!

This forum Rocks!

 

I believe it is possible, (if one can get the ball-joint), to press out using the traditional engineers vice, you know, the really big ones that used to be in the old-type workshops ! This assumes you can machine up the special parts to press out the old and press in the new using the vice.

 

I agree. I am sure this could be done; In addition, a torch might also prove to be a useful tool to have handy as well. The "I can do anything" part of me wanted to pursue that option. But in the end, I was happier just paying for the new part.

In this current situation, the car is at a shop, and most shop-owners are unwilling to go to such lengths when there is an off-the-shelf item available and the customer is paying.

PS> I still have my old cores if you want to prove your point. ;-)

 

My mechanic did give it a go and attempted to remove the ball joint with a press. In spite of the design causing limitations on a obtaining a stable press footing...he did get tons of pressure on it. It did not budge.

So on to a new control arm!

 

I will tell you, it can be done (on 1997 XK8) I took the lower control arm with a new aftermarket ball joint (for $50) to a NAPA machine shop. And 2 hours later I got the call to pick it up. The cost was $32.00 and the smile on my face priceless.

 

I think most owners would accept the Jaguar advice on replacing the whole arm if there was not the suspicion that it is a nice little earner for them !! My Rover 75 has a similar aluminium lower front arm with two balljoints pressed in, but it is a reasonable price. like around £170 = $266, yet the Jag part is twice as much. Something wrong there, methinks !!

 

Some people have had success with a ball joint press in removing this joint. Though if you buy the arm you also get a bushing pressed in for the other end. I tried to get a bushing out once and was not successsful.

 

As stated earlyer in thispost, heat must be used to remove and install it. Too much and you may change the characteristics of the metal of the arm. pressing in you own ball joints may save you money but a lower control arm failure due to this at speed, is priceless.

 

Just FYI no heat was use at the NAPA machine shop. I have used the shop for years. But note my has steel lower control arm. Not sure if yours is steel. What I can say is that 75 mph is fast for me.