The magazine was actually buy cars Here is a link. Off Topic...but I know some of you like fast cars too.
1989 Porsche 944 Turbo Ford Gt 40 Garage Photo
George
1989 Porsche 944 Turbo Ford Gt 40 Garage Photo
George
Lower Ball Joints
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- Start date
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Nice stuff. I luv walking around in those LA-area Supercar shops. Awesome stuff!
Where did you get that awesome rubber molding for your ARB bumper? My original plastic parts that hide the gap are no longer available.
I want that for my bumper. I hate the gap. Thanks!
George
I want that for my bumper. I hate the gap. Thanks!
George
Spicer ball joints went in without too much fuss according to my tech.
George
George
I also did this job a couple of months ago. I rented the balljoint press from Napa Auto. I had to make a special tube to make the press fit. The press that I rented wasn't big enough to press the balljoint back in. I will post photos in a couple of days.
100 LC getting the lower ball joints replaced, my tech on the last front end alignment brought it to my attention and showed me that the front tires were starting to over steer with the play that was there. My front tires had a thin scratch line running full circle on the inside of both front tires like if my steer stops weren't stopping at the proper place. I have 175K on the original lower ball joints; dealers are telling me the same thing, only available with A arms; at least now we have a choice!
Are there any special tools needed when replacing the entire arm with lower ball joint, and does anyone know approximately how many hours. I am thinking of taking care of this myself; found a dealer selling them to me at $350 ea.
You will need a ball joint puller. You will have to unload the torsion bar and you will need an alignment after its all done.
I think that it would take at least 5 hours. Jack up front end - use jack stands, remove wheels, unload torsion bars, remove front part of t-bars, pull brake pads, brake calipers, unbolt bottom shock, unbolt sway bar, remove c-clip, drive plate, pull bearings/brake disk, splash shield, move CV out of the way, use ball joint puller, unbolt lower control arms.
While you are in there, might as well re-pack your bearings.
Piece of cake
I think that it would take at least 5 hours. Jack up front end - use jack stands, remove wheels, unload torsion bars, remove front part of t-bars, pull brake pads, brake calipers, unbolt bottom shock, unbolt sway bar, remove c-clip, drive plate, pull bearings/brake disk, splash shield, move CV out of the way, use ball joint puller, unbolt lower control arms.
While you are in there, might as well re-pack your bearings.
Piece of cake
Thanks for the insight, may want my Bro's help on this one; maybe I can cut the time down by a half hour; second thought it may add two hours due to the suds...
Appreciate the rundown!
Appreciate the rundown!
Any updates on pressing in those ball joints? Joe at Slee put in a driver side arm for me today. My old one did not squeak, creek, nothing.. Just a 1/2 inch vertical play in the ball. Also had a worn out rack bushing. 173K on the clock. Glad they caught it before CM09.
bluecruiser
SILVER Star
How did you find that you had the 1/2 in of vertical play in the ball joint? Was it by jacking up the tire and moving it from top to bottom?
Thanks
Thanks
When doing the front wheel bearings. Truck was on the lift with the wheels off. So with the suspension unloaded. The entire knukle and upper a-rm could be moved pretty easily. Another way to check is to put in a prybar at the joint and apply pressure.
Last night redoing my CV boots - I discovered the drivers side upper ball joint - completely shot - I was nearly able to pull the entire ball out of the joint by hand. It was near catostrophic failure. I saved it for you Trunk Monkey.
New OEM upper arm on its way from Toyota. $325 - ouch. Still waiting on my steering rack - going on 5 weeks waiting for Toyota to send me one. I have a Moab trip planned next week. Crossing my fingers it arrives in time. The front end of my 100 is in bad shape right now.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
I'd blame the PO.
Had Christo's crew replace my passanger side A-arm a few weeks ago. SO that's both lower sides for me at 180k. figure I just got to sell it before 360k and they'll never need to be done again. I'm waiting for the upper's to go.
Still curious about the spicer? pics? anyone else had success? 10k update?
Still curious about the spicer? pics? anyone else had success? 10k update?
hoser
SILVER Star
I am running the Spicer ball joints. I had a shop install it since I was short on time and didn't have the ball joint puller. They charged me 3.5 hours of labor. It's only been about 1k miles since install but so far so good.
Time for me to replace my lower ball joints. The uppers were shot beyond belief - I repalced the entire upper control arms with OEM. Steering rack was shot to hell as well - every bushing and seal was gone - Replaced with OEM.
Time for the lower ball joints but I can't afford new OEM lower control arms as well at this point. Thinking I'm going to go with the Spicer - Napa's are $94 - I found a similar looking ball joint that Autozone carries for $75 - Is this also the spicer joint that has been re-branded? Anyone know?
Time for the lower ball joints but I can't afford new OEM lower control arms as well at this point. Thinking I'm going to go with the Spicer - Napa's are $94 - I found a similar looking ball joint that Autozone carries for $75 - Is this also the spicer joint that has been re-branded? Anyone know?
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
In the pics on the first page the blue slip says SB3812 and Autozone's part no. is - SB3812.
hoser
SILVER Star
I got mine from Rockauto.com at $55/ea. Use discount code 24726152056983 till 1.17.10 for a whopping 5% off.
The Trunk Monkey - making me look like a fool. Thanks for pointing out the obvious that I clearly missed. I owe you a cheese fry and diet coke. Let me know what Thursday works best for you.
They only had one left. I ordered it but needed to find a second. Done. Now I get to install them. Booooo. Thankfully I have a Toyota Master Tech that lives two doors down!
I'll post up picks of how worn the lower ball joints are. They have about an inch of play in them as they sit.
