Ball joint replacement

[ChrisBailey]

Hi guys,
The first job I want to do is get my new front beam built and on the car.
I want to use the leaves and trailing arms from the old beam.
I'll be replacing the ball joints and track rod ends.
Has anybody got experience changing the ball joints ?
Internet forums make it sound like hell unless you have a 20 ton press.
I'm not sure it's worth investing in a press yet, I'm asking around for prices at garages to press for me.
Thanks

[Phill]

Yes you need a press to replace the ball joints. 4 new ball joints will cost you £40 and provided you remove the arms yourself and take them along with new ball joints to an engineering shop it shouldn't cost too much to get the old ones pressed out and new ones fitted. Or for just under £200 you can get a set of refurbished trailing arms complete with new ball joints from Limebug instead.

https://www.limebug.com/product/view...efurbished-631

[ChrisBailey]

I looked at the refurbed trailing arms.
I need to use long travel ball joints as my car is lowered quite a bit.
I can't see refurbed units with long travel ball joints.

[jim73vw]

I looked at the refurbed trailing arms.
I need to use long travel ball joints as my car is lowered quite a bit.
I can't see refurbed units with long travel ball joints.

The details are in the description - https://www.limebug.com/product/view...et-refurbished

These are long travel ones for lowered cars - most are these days.

[ChrisBailey]

Oops. I should have read more carefully.
Thanks guys

[steve]

Hi Chris,
Have a think about replacing the VW torsion bars with through-rods & coil-overs (on the standard VW beam) On my first car (Nova) I ran with the 2 smaller bars removed from the tubes but the ride was still a bit to harsh for my tastes.

[Dirk]

I bought a press when I needed mine doing £150 for the 20 tone press £40 for the ball joints about the same as buying the refurbed ones, but the press is for life and I have used it several times for other jobs, and the next time I need to do ball joints it will only coast £40 so if you have the space get a press.

Dirk

[MicksRedNova]

Hi guys,
The first job I want to do is get my new front beam built and on the car.
I want to use the leaves and trailing arms from the old beam.
I'll be replacing the ball joints and track rod ends.
Has anybody got experience changing the ball joints ?
Internet forums make it sound like hell unless you have a 20 ton press.
I'm not sure it's worth investing in a press yet, I'm asking around for prices at garages to press for me.
Thanks

Ray and Gary gave me a hand to change them on MicksRedNova after it failed the MOT. Those ball-joints had only done about 50 miles when I got punted into the Armco!
It took a large vice, a large hammer, a hydraulic press, some heat and lots of swearing.

Mick

[Dirk]

With the press and 2 different size dies (steel tubes in my case) its a 5 minuet job for each one.

Dirk

[ChrisBailey]

I had the ball joints replaced by limebug, I had a bit of an issue with grit but they are fitted to my beam now.
I want to put new washers (pressure washers) on both the upper and lower ball joints. These sit on the spindle and grip to the camber adjusters and lower ball joint.
I think I have misplaced mine, so hoping I can replace them with something from a bolts and fasteners specialist.
Does anybody have the dimensions of these washers.
Thanks