I just attempted this job and ran into some trouble. I have to assume that the 2000 Manny worked on is different than my '98. The main problem I have is the sheetmetal shield behind the brake disc (not sure the exact name of this, shield plate?). It is obstructing my access to the ball joint ends to put my remover tool on. I was BARELY able to get one of my pullers on the horizontal end. I used a standard type that looks like a little horseshoe with a screw through the top. I could not use the one I thought I would use because the locator pin on that end of the ball joint was getting in the way. Anyway, I figured once I got the horizontal part loose I could pull the knuckle away giving me access to the vertical end. However, guess what got in my way?? Yeah, the shield plate again. It has a little bump molded into it which would not allow me to pull the knuckle away. Also, I could not see what the tie rod end had to do with anything so I left that installed.

It is my opinion that to do this job I have to remove the disc and then the shield plate behind the disc and THEN I can get the access I need to do the job.

Does anyone have any input on all of this?

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra