Lower Ball Joint Replacement Question
 

I need to replace both ball joints on my 85 300SD due to the fact that there is not a boot on either one. I was looking at the proceedure for replacing it, but I was wondering if it is possible to do it without removing the spindle?

The job wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Have done a few of them now. The right tools are everything.

dp

What all tools will I need? So far, I have a tie rod fork, and I am going to get the joint press from Autozone. Anything else I should pick up beforehand?

Beer and smokes.
 

At least a half-rack.

Jay.

When you go to Autozone rent one of these too or buy one from somewhere like Samstagsales.com or Harbor Freight.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...ointlifter.jpg

If you can get a hold of this that would work better than the autozone press:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...textractor.jpg

Danny

What is the name of the tool in these pictures?

It's called a ball-joint press.

Harbor Freight has a ball joint tool on sale that looks like a big C-clamp. Is that the same concept as the tool above? Would that allow removal of the joint without removal of the spindle?

Rent the correct ball joint tool from Performance Products. You won't be sorry. RT

Since you didn't post any contact info for Performance Products, I can only assume you mean www.************************. The ball joint press tool they sell for $366 looks the same as the one Harbor Freight sells for $30. I didn't see any mention of renting tools on this website.

The website is www.performanceproducts4benz.com If I recall, in their catalog, it states that you need to call the 800# for tool rental. (800-243-1220) I believe Rusty at www.*************** also rents tools.

Having done this job, I agree, the right tool makes all the difference between a job well done vs. a great deal of frustration.

those only work to seperate the tie rods and the upper ball joint. they will not help him press the new lower ball joints in. the one you rent at autozone will work just as good as any of them. belive me, i have used it many times with no problems. the harbor freight press is garbage, please dont waste your money. get the one from autozone and its free.carefully use a hammer to pound the old one out and then it will press right in. MAKE SURE IT IS STARTED STRAIT.

I had trouble pressing ball joint in with AZ press
 

I found an indy could do a better job pressing ball joint in than me and charged $40 including ball joint. I had trouble with the AZ press. It would not go in and I tore my boot as it was too much trouble to try to take it off. In the How TO on lowor ball joint Boostn Benz says he needed every bit of his 900 ft lbs of torque from his impact wrench to press it in. I borrowed my neighbors but do not think it had that much torque. Also you need a big vise or something to hold the steering knuckle thingy that the ball joint presses into. All in all, unless you are really hankering for some adventure, if you have never done it before and have not used the tools or do not have the tools, you are probably better off doing the bulk of the work and taking the the assembly to Indy to press it in. I know I was.

Now where can I get a boot for a ball joint ... :)

Lower ball joint boot kit....part #116 586 04 33 at your friendly dealer. FWIW ;)

My mistake I was thinking that second picture was the lower balljoint press :o
It's actually seperates the lower control arm from the ball joint carrier. You can do the same thing with a pickle fork.
Klann makes this tool for about $200. You can buy the identicle tool from www.samstagsales.com as a BMW tool part# BMW3030 for about $100.

That tool in the second picture is used to seperate the tie-rods. Be careful they have a hex key on top to hold it in place you don't want to ruin that.

The Autozone press works fine. Put the new joint in the freezer over night and use a little light oil (WD 40) during installation. Take the boots off during instalation. The spring clip slips right back on when your done.

use a large socket or piece of pipe if you have any to hammer the old one out.

Danny