Hello Stanley,
I was a bit worried that I may have given you incorrect size information, but have a look at
https://www.mister-auto.co.uk/ball-...overy-mk-ii-l318-2-5-td5-4x4-139hp-1998-2004/ cone sizes etc are given here. Upper and lower are certainly different sizes. I also take the point by Mr Fery that the covers could also be slightly different between manufacturers.
Yes, I did note that you said you may replace it all, my experience was all the hard work was getting to that stage!
We are in the north Charente, 16350, "nearest" village Champagne Mouton. We are not residents, just coming and going as we please (for now!). Having a Landy Barn is great, but I've moved most of my facilities over there now. I agree with your comment on the weather, finding a weather window to replace the rear calipers at Christmas was difficult.
Before I get slapped on the wrist by the Thread Police, good luck. Did it pass the MOT by the way?
PP.
Hi PP,
To answer your last point first, yes, it did pass. It was the pass certificate that told me about the boots as I had been so busy doing other stuff to get it ready, and the weather was against me, I didn't check them.
I have yet to go back to the rest of the thread as I've only just logged on and read your post but I will do so and take into consideration what you, SF, NPG and JM have said.
I am amazed that you say getting the actual final ball joints out was not the hardest work. All the other threadsI have read about have found getting them out was a total bas tard. Problem being that although I can do it anywhere, I will not be over here and I don't fancy having to pay stupid money to buy the special tool in France when I can get one for under £30 here. so the quandary I am in is, do I buy it anyway and take it with me?
The vehicle has done 165k so I suppose it is very likely it will need them, despite the MOT centre not finding any play in them. and also, getting to the point of replacing the boots, it is only one further final job to replace. Decisions to be made really quickly now as so busy. At least wifey is prepared to buy "me" the special tool as a birthday present! I pointed out it would be a present for the Disco, not me and we had a laugh about it, i said it'd be like me nuying her a pan for a birthday, at which point she said she would like a special big deep frying pan for doing a certain dish we have started doing for dinner parties! So maybe that's what will happen.
I also note that Rave says to take the front shock and spring out to make it all easier, which I fully understand, although it also says to take the cross member off too. Although I haven't crawled underneath it in the rain, I don't know why that should be necessary.
I am torn between getting a giant pickle fork type separator and the sort you wind it out with with spacers. I never use the former, I always use either a coupla big hammers or a scissor type but I am not sure which one of the scissor type to get as have no idea of the size necessary. So I expect I'll get the wind out kit with all the extra spacers and bits.
Charente huh? We went on holiday there once. It was very flat, all the marshes and stuff. We had a lovely time but we prefer to be high up so are at 600 metres in the Montagne Noire.
Interesting that your chap also went to France,
@jamesmartin Once Brexit is sorted out maybe we should have a convention somewhere in France. there are a ton of us with places over there!
Regarding separating the hub from the axle, here is a tip that I found to be the easiest way. And it is similar to that used for separating ball joints. Just crack the bolts that hold it together, maybe a quarter turn, go round the outside of the hub, clouting it not too hard with the hammer, then go round all the bolts heads giving them a good whack in an outward direction as if each one was a nail, working diagonally. This should free them, if not, then undo them a bit further and repeat. This worked fine on the rear ones, So I assume it'll work ok on the fronts, although I do appreciate the hubs turn. So maybe two hammers simultaneously on two diagonal bolts?
Right, decision made, I will order all four joints and the special tool, and take the whole lot with me.
Thanks again
@PopPops for the link, the prices look good. All I need to do now is see if they do the axle/hub seals too then I'll be set up.
thanks all and I'll let you know probably months from now, how I get on.
Maybe, like the Starter motor thing, I might do another thread on doing the job, with pics. That'll encourage me, as you all know how much I like writing!
Cheers all
Stan.
