Lower ball joint fitting tool

[mm289]

Evening,

Myrtle just failed MoT on split boot on lower ball joint.

Wish I had seen Nicola & Tony's post as would have ordered up a new boot as per CovKid's post, but old one is removed now!

I have a new one ready to fit but it isn't easy to get in a hydraulic press and its even harder to apply pressure to the flange on the top of the ball joint.

I am thinking of getting a piece of thick wall tube the right size to slip over the boot but rest on the flange, and then cut a slot out the back so it will fit past the bolt and not interfere with the back of the upright.

Anyways, just wondered if anyone had any better ideas or if they had found a pre-made tool that works - or even good drawing/pictures of the VW original so I can make a copy

Cheers,

MM

[gtavalanche]

Take the boot off first, its a little messy, but much better than tearing your boot!

[mm289]

Yep, have done that thanks

Turned out to be a nightmare of a job,

Cut out the old one which was relatively easy, although someone had butchered the steering knuckle on a previous attempt

Getting the new one in was a nightmare, had to make up a special tool equivalent of the VW tool as a sleeve to use in the mechanical press, that wouldn't exert enough force so went round to my MoT station who are a commercial vehicle workshop and their hydraulic press failed!!

Eventually, got it done at another trade contact who had a bush replacement tool, like a big G clamp with all the different adaptors and that wacked it in with a big impact wrench on the end

I think I might be investing in one of those myself if I have to do any more of these!!

Cheers,

MM

[gtavalanche]

Pretty much the same as me then, my local garage has a press thats had a JCB ram fitted to it. Was a nightmare. It could be worth buying one of those for any member to use as a club maybe. If eveyone stuck in a quid, would be paid in a day or two.

[mm289]

Yeh, I am thinking about getting one for the workshop then anyone in the south east that needs their ball joints doing can pop down and sort them out as I have a ramp etc.

I reckon it must be a common fault as the MoT now fails on a torn boot, not just a loose ball joint

Just got to find a supplier now

MM