hey people
do many people here replace there own balljoints or is it too much of a pain in the arse??
cheers
rhys

I did all mine Rhys

There's a bit of muckin around getting the old ones out, but replacing them is a breeze.

It's not hard if you have a press.

And this is the easiest method of removal:
http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/qa_balljointrem.htm 

I looked into this for our bus and it was much easier and more cost effective to get a wokshop to do them. I do nearly everything else myself, but the balljoints and gearbox's are best left to those with the right tools in my opinion.

If your doing a Beetle then they can be done on the car.....

However if your doing a Kombi... then u need to remove the trailing arms brakes etc etc and use a 25 ton press to push the buggars out..... they WILL NOT come out any other way.

And if your doing them replace all 4 at the same time so you only have to get one wheel and camber alignment. Also check the tie rod ends and do at the same time ,... less expense on the wheel aligner

I took My arms to the local mechanic who tried to push the originals out with a 10 tonne press..... and they wouldn't budge....
He had to take them to a 25 tonne press to push them out..

So, I wouldn't have had any chance of doing it at home....

I would take them to a Mechanic or someone with a 25 + tonne press to do the job....

Has anyone drilled out the new non greaseable ball joints and inserted grease nipples in them???

I do believe it would be worth it in the long run....

My original ball joints were in good condition - no movement at all - only the rubber boots had splits in them...
They had been greased regularly with Lithium based Moly grease.....
I suppose what I should have done, is bought 4 cheap ball joints and used the rubber boots off them....
but I didn't.... I tried to buy rubber boots without success...

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug