Ball joints, DIY?

[PeterH]

Hi all, I've been trying to sort though some steering issues lately and I noticed the rubber boots on my two lower ball joints are perished.
The two upper ball joints were replaced by a mechanic about 4 years ago, they seem to be fine.
While I'm not feeling any movement when I jack the front up and wiggle the wheels, I know they are going to have to be replaced.
I'm not sure if it would be better to handball this job to a mechanic or do it myself, I've read it can be a tough one.
I do almost all the work on my P38 myself, I have no problem taking it all apart, it's the actual pressing out and in again that I'm not sure about.
I've been reading a lot about this job on different forums, are special tools really required for this job?
I don't mind buying tools, but I'm not sure exaclty what I need for the actual pressing out and in part.
Has anyone done this job themselves? I'd be interested to hear your experiences.
Cheers, Pete.

[p38arover]

I had mine done my an LR specialist.

[benji]

Bare in mind the upper and lower ball joints can only be changed twice on an axle casing, then the holes are deemed too loose of a fit.

With a master press kit, and a pickle fork its a diy job, but it can take some perseverance.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[FANTOM P38]

Hi Pete
Recently did this job both upper & lower both sides on my P38.
I borrowed a set of press tools to do job would be almost impossible to do safely without them, was around a day to do all four but much peace of mind now. Im sure this is first time they have ever been changed on my 95 P38.
Next job is suspension bushes & tie rods etc.
regards, Martin

[PeterH]

Thanks Martin, good to know others have been able to do this job.
I'd like to do it myself if I know what press kit to get.
Three or four years ago the mechanics only did the top ball joints, the bottom ones were ok, but I did want them to do the bottom ones as well at the time while it was apart anyway.
So here I am a few years later with the bottom ones going, exactly what I was hoping to avoid. At least when you do your own work you get what you want!
Would it be possible to only do the lower ball joints? From what I can gather, the press winder needs to go through the top ball joint hole to do the bottom ones.
Or maybe I'm better off just doing top and bottom while I'm at it, but the top ones are not that old and in good shape.

[zzsteve]

Peter,
Most certainly a DIY job, with patience and the right tools. There is an excellent YouTube series by Michael Murphy outlining the job on a D2 which is almost identical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yodDswj5qIU
I bought this ball joint separator an a sledge hammer.
21pc Universal Ball Joint Separator (http://www.radum.com.au/product/6608-21pc-universal-ball-joint-separator).
All the remaining tools are standard fare for a Landrover home mechanic.
Do both ball joints when you have the knuckle off. At very least, replace the rubber boots if the joint is OK. They are not easy to find, but MR Automotive had them.
Cheers,
Steve

[PeterH]

Thanks for those links Steve, I did watch parts of that video series, very informative.
I really didn't know which press kit to get, I didn't want to get it all apart and not have the right tools to press out and in again.
I ended up getting my local Land Rover specialist to do it this time, I wanted him to have a proper look over the front end while had it.
I'll probably get that kit for next time though, I like doing these things myself where I can!

As it turned out a couple of tie rod ends needed doing as well, along with getting rid of the after market panhard rod bushes I pressed in myself last week as they were the cause of my steering woes, much better with genuine bushes in there now.

Cheers, Pete.

[eddy]

Similar ball joint separator here
https://www.vidaxl.com.au/p/210025/21-piece-ball-joint-adapter-tool-set

[zzsteve]

Thanks for those links Steve, I did watch parts of that video series, very informative.
I really didn't know which press kit to get, I didn't want to get it all apart and not have the right tools to press out and in again.

Cheers, Pete.

Pete,
The kit in the link is the one I bought. It's pretty hefty and I didn't need any additional or modified bushes as the Youtube video might have suggested.
Cheers,
Steve