[saleen1]

I need to change the lower ball joint on my EB. The workshop manual says the whole spindle needs to be removed. I don't rememebr this being the case on my XF. Is it because the EB's have struts and the access is harder or can you really change the balljoint without removing the entire spindle?

 

[saleen1]

Today I thought, What the Heck. And yep, the spindle has to come off. Would be a tad hard to fit a F#%KING PRESS TO THE SPINDLE TO GET THE BALL JOINT OFF WHILE ITS STILL ON THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, its a learnign curve I guess.

 

[Aussiblue]

OTC and others make a giant G-Clamp type tool for this job. The can be used to both remove and install the ball joints. See http://www.otctools.com/frames-wnew.php3 OTC 7249 BALL JOINT SERVICE TOOL SET and http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43744
I bought one and must say even with one it still very difficult. The Factory Manual says press it out using a large vice; that didn't work; the vice broke instead. A full days job even with the OTC tool (though I was very ill at the time and screwing that clamp in was harder work than it should have been). I'm also a 10 stone weaking (well before I tackled the ball joints but using the tool was better than a bullworker). Although it's possible in theory, I found it was really too hard to replace them in situ.

The tool was cheaper than the quote I got to replace the joints at the time and I have found the adapters that come with the tool can also be used for other jobs in a hydraulic press as well. I got a good deal; a local tool shop had been carrying an OTC one in stock for years and were very anxious to sell it. Nobody else had ever inquired about buying one.

Harbour Fright and JC Whitney have cheaper versions see http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38926
and http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42236
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43032
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5546&BQ=jcw2
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=77997&BQ=jcw2

It might be cheaper and easier to take it to a suspension specialist and have them do it.

 

[Aussiblue]

Oops that 1st URL should be: http://www.cartools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=001&Category_Code=SU and http://www.cartools.com/Merchant2/m...001&Product_Code=sasuOTC7918&Category_Code=SU

You'll need the adapter that looks like a cylinder with a slice cut off one corner.

 

[Aussiblue]

The Ford Manual says buy the Litchfield Ball Joint Service Kit E9331A but you'll need a large vice or an OTC type tool as well; the Litchfield kit is just a receiver, sleeve and adapter.