another ball joint job coming up
 

Well, I THOUGHT my front end was in good shape. I was checking everything over a week ago before a little trip over the mountain pass, when I found both my lower front balljoint boots are ripped wide open. I've done a few ball-joint replacements before, so I read thru the repair CD, and thru past posts here, and decided not to mess with it myself. Then I called the shop I've used before for other repairs. They quoted a book-rate of $258.00! That's per side! I talked with my brother who used to be a certified mechanic many years ago at places like Goodyear, ect. He has a good supply of front-end tools, and said he'd help me do the job.
I'll see if we can get some pics to post. (He has a nice digital camera)

Rick,

That shop quote is way out of line even for San Francisco. If its the 126 your doing, it's an easy job except to install the ball joint in the knuckle. Without the special MB tool it's a nightmare. Lots of times you can do a job without the special tools, but this ain't one of em.

Good luck,
Peter

Hi Rickg:
I just did the lower ball joint on my car. It was a pain getting the knucle out. The problem was I could not detach the joint between the lower control arm and the lower ball joint. This is the joint by which the lower control arm is attached to the knuckle.
It took me 6 hrs on one side and 20 minutes on the other. LOL
The key is a good pickle fork type ball joint separator and a 2-3 pound hammer. Strength is the key. Dont be scared banging it hard. a few good blows will separate it clean.
The second hard part is pressing in the new ball joints. I went to a shop for that and he messed it up. He used a Pneumatic hammer and a large socket to press in the ball joint. One came out good and the other one did not go all the way in.
He messed up the collar of the new ball joint. It looks ugly.
Key here is nothing but the MB special tool that you have seen on this forum. Dont waste your time and money on anything else if you want a clean job.

Rest all was a piece of cake.

MVK

Thanks guys!
Yeh, I thought that price sounded really steep, and I said so to them over the phone. The gal says"well, that's book flat rate. Of course if it doesn't take that long, we won't charge you that much". Thanks, but no thanks!
I sent my brother a pic of what the balljoint press looks like, and he's gonna compare it to what he has. We may have to adapt. I just happen to work in a machine shop, so I can make what ever adapter we need (hopefully!) Wish I'd jumped on the press that was on e-bay the other day! If we can't make anything work, I'll shop around somemore for prices for a shop to do it for me. I used to do all my own stuff, but the 'ol knees don't like crawling around on a hard cement floor anymore. But if my brohter is willing to sacrifice the same, what the heck!:D

oops!
BTW, don't buy your parts form NAPA! I priced balljoints and brake rotors (while it's all apart, what the heck). Way expensive compared to Fastlane, ect. Balljoints were $51 each compared to $18 at Fastlane. But I can't find brake rotors at Fastlane. Why for not? They've got everything else but! (I found them at another web site for about $52)

Fastlane does always have the brake parts. May be they just ran out of it. Call them. I remember they were 24 bucks each when I got mine.

MVK

Looking under my car, I though there was only 1 lower ball joint per side. Close to the outside almost inside of the rim it looks like with the tires on the car. Then I noticed another, joint closer in and lower. Is that another "ball joint? If so, is it the same part as the outer just hidden inside that arm? Thanks.

I'd like to see what the ball joint press in tool looks like if anyone can post a picture or link.

Ken300D

check out my post(photos) in search I did lower ball joints on my 81 Sd and 86 500SE with a 12 ton Harbor Freight H press and home made tools ,a bit on the dangerous side but not that hard to do, I would like to have a line of 126's waiting at 285 per pop, could buy a 500E in a short time.............
William Rogers........

Hi Tank;
Its only 1 lower BJ per side. The other joint you are looking at is the ball joint for the tie rod ends. Thats the joint which connects the tie rod with the steering knuckel. Check out the diagrams at ************************

MVK

Ken:
o a search on the ball joint press and you will come across it. If not look under the tools for MB at ************************.

This is in no way an endorsment to pp. Infact my primary suppliers has always been Fastlane. Only when I dont find things here at Fastlane, I turn to other places.

MVK

Hi Ken300D:
Ball joint press looks like this
http://www.samstagsales.com/SirTool/stm_0063.htm

MVK