Who has changed this ball joint?

Is this ball joint a pain to get out in situ or is it needing a press to prise it out from its housing on the hub?
I suspect one of mine is on its way out.

I have already done the track rod ends as one was foobared, I don't think the middle ball joints are as bad but will change them at same time.

Mot due soon!

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Proper PITA to remove. They are held on with Torx bolts of which the heads are easily rounded when trying to remove them, then the driveshaft CV knuckle is in the way limiting access to give the joint a good whack with a hammer.

the hardest part is getting the bolts off. I ended up using Bolt grip remover sockets (google them - irwin tools do a set) and hammering them onto the bolt and then undoing it ( worked very well )

With the bolts off, i then put a trolley jack under the bottom of the hub carrier and jack it up till its taking some weight and won't allow the hub to move downwards.

With the hub fixed in place, its then a case of LR tool #1 ( big hammer ) and LR tools #2a,b,c (big chisels). place the chisel in at an angle onto the top of the ball joint and hammer the thing out. I preferred the used of a pointed chisel as that would dig into the upper casing of the balljoint and hold in place without sliding off. By jacking up the hub, your hitting against the trolley jack support, and not the shock/damper top-out bush.

It can take a lot of force and its a destructive process - but who cares, you are replacing it. Sometimes I would use a heat gun on the hub carrier around the balljoint to expand the metal to help it out.

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Had a hub assembly off a damaged car this week and 2 hits with a decent hammer and the ball joint fell out Easy peasie with the hub off... Never tried one in situ

Thanks guys, it does look a pita to do!

I will set a day aside for this ....then again Im on holiday for a week soon

Craig you where lucky pall, those kind of jobs don't come round often or as easy ....you better do the loto

I remember a simple job of just changing a damper on the Disco 1 this year, ah simple 10 min job.....nope near side nut on the lower shock was tight, then snapped the stud, great that's fine but the top nut on the shock mount was tight, very tight also even with the magic wd40 and could only turn one flat f the nut at a time due to the wheel been on, I didn't want to get the trolley jack out and wheel off.........yes it took ages to take off!
New one took less than 5 min to put on

Having Land Rovers most of my time I should of known it was going to bite back at me....did I ever curse it  If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

Did mine on the car but might be easier for you to remove the arm you will get better access to it when off.

Mine were replaced......

Looked at it......

Paid someone else to do it! Torx bolts rusted in place, so right pita to get out. I bet it doesn't book as a long job at a dealer as it can be done simply on a non rusted car...... There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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Welshdragon wrote:

Thanks guys, it does look a pita to do!

I will set a day aside for this ......................

Landed up pressing a wheel bearing into that hub today as putting it back together it just didn't feel perfect! Good job too as when i pressed it out it fell to bits! Not so lucky i guess