Hi guys, I've got a session with my mechanic set up for Tues. I didn't have a way to appt heat needed to loosen the T60 bolts securing the arm do I'm going to him, a very reasonably priced operation.

I'm sure this will be his 1st lower ball joint/bushing replacement. Would you please tell me how to get the joint out once the arm is removed? From what I recall one removes the ball joint by pressing it through and clear in the same direction it was inserted at the factory.

Is this true? I wonder why you can't just reverse it and press it out, any thpughts?

Does he have to cut some kind of metal collar to do do? I remember reading about that do wanted to check.

Maybe I'm complicating a simple situation. I can't picture it in my mind. If so, just let me know.

When you get a moment, please educate me on what to expect once we have the arm off and move to replace the ball joint.

Thanks! John

 

Yes it does press out, the issue is the angle of the swing are and the lack of surface to support it. Have to cut the lip off the ball joint on two perpendicular sides to get enough area for support. Putting the new one back in is also just as challenging..

 

Have a read of this :

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-joint-108176/

 

Yes it not easy. If you look at the picture below, you can see what Jandreu is talking about. I applied 10 tons from my hydraulic press and the old ball joint still refused to budge until I applied heat for about 5 minutes. It took about 5 to 6 tons to push the new one in. The biggest problem is the shape of the arm that prevents you getting the hydraulic ram square with the ball joint.

 

Just to add a safety warning, when the old ball joint came out, I left it on the workbench as it was red hot. The grease inside must of boiled and caused a pressure build up which resulted in an enormous bang and the ball separated from the socket and flew across the garage like a bullet. I was lucky it didn't hit me.

If you use heat to remove the ball joint, drop it in a bucket of water straight away. It was quite frightening!

 

I have pictures/description of how I pressed in the LBJ's In this post

20 Ton Harbor Freight Press, Ball Joint Press kit (Free rental from autozone) and lots of wood to crush.

 

John, You can.
l used a short offcut of suitable size waterpipe split lengthways then sprung over the balljoint to hug the circumference of the shoulder then simply pressed out of the arm into the pipe. There is just enough arm surface around the joint for support.
The fun will begin when he comes to install the new joint. I made myself an angled jig secured to the arm by throughbolt which creates a square surface to press against. I used a conventional "C" clamp type balljoint press to install new joints after a night in the freezer.

 

Thanks everyone. This was a big help. Mechanic just rescheduled to next Wed. I'll let you know how we do.

John