uksniper1 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 hi,my self leveling ball joint on my 1990 classic has given up the ghost,its knocking even when i run over anything bigger than a peanut!..a guy i was talking to says you can take the whole thing off,including the big shock unit itself,,i was wondering if any one else has removed theres? as aparently you get better articulation without it.but im wary of removing it as it would be just the trailing arms holding the axle then,,any replies be great,,thanks,,wayne.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Yes, you can remove it. If if was working, and you removed it, you might notice the back sagging without the additional support, but since it's obviously not working, removing it will have no effect, good or bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clbarclay Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 There is enough travel in the self leveling unit (SLU) to allow +2" dampers to fully extend on articulation, but only just with standard springs. these units do wear out so removing it probably won't have any ill effects though fitting discovery rear springs will probaly help as they never had a SLU and just had stiff springs instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 ok cheers for that guys,,ive got heavy duty springs on her and 4 inches of lift too,so im hoping she wont sag too bad,,its just the ball joint where it joins the axle thats worn out,,but i may as well take the whole thing off then,,will it be ok just being held on by the trailing arms then?...thanks again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 You absolutely need to keep the A-frame and it's ball joint, no question of that!!! Please don't remove the whole A-frame, that's really not a good idea at all.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hang on a sec are we talking at cross purposes here. You can remove the load levelling unit. But I'm pretty sure you can't remove the A frame with the ball joint at the point. That is what stops the axle moving side to side. I think this is what the OP is asking. Steve Edit...Landyman beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Here you go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheltie50 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Yes indeed, if you have stronger springs fitted and good dampers you can remove the self level unit from the ball joint and from the chassis but the A frame bars must stay in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 The A-frame and its ball joint which goes to the rear axle must remain connected. The ball joint is not expensive, but can be a complete pig to remove from the carrier which you can see at the top of Landymanlukes pics. It has two bolts through it into the carrier - viewed from below - but don't think that after disconnecting it from the axle it is a simple matter of undoing the bolts & tapping it out Best remove it and the carrier from the axle & A-frame & take it to a garage with the new ball joint & get them to press the old one out & the new one in. (garages have been known to break presses doing these!) It must go in square AND with the bolt holes lined up as there is no way you can just twist it a bit to get them to line up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 hi,,thanks for all the replies,ill try an get a whole set up off another rangie,and save the hassle of trying to get the old ball joint out. ..once again thank you very much for the replies,its helped loads..cheers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 hi,,thanks for all the replies,ill try an get a whole set up off another rangie,and save the hassle of trying to get the old ball joint out. ..once again thank you very much for the replies,its helped loads..cheers... Don't bother - the ball joint on that will be well past it's best too. Do the job properly and it will probably last the rest of the lifetime of the vehicle. As said, the ball joint isn't expensive. Note that while you will find people who tell you you can do it yourself with basic hand tools, I have and if I ever have to do another I'm paying someone with a proper press to do it for me... Took all day and really made the neighbours happy (lots and lots of hammering...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 ....... Took all day and really made the neighbours happy (lots and lots of hammering...). They weren't fussed about the hammering...it was the swearing. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Geoffs experience was about the same as mine then! The cat learnt some interesting new words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I've done it without a press, as above, it took me a day. Drilled the old one out of the casting, and made a tool to pull the new one in, using 4x 12mm bolts etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumbleweed Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 can be a sod to get off- we had to use a high speed spinning spanner (aka angle grinder) on my old one to shift it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 thanks for all the replies,,i will buy a whole new self leveling set up for her i think,will avoid all the probs with removing the ball joint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 The self levelling device - boge strut - does not come with the A-frame to axle ball joint. Are you sure you are talking about the right item being faulty? Go back to Landyman's pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 The self levelling device - boge strut - does not come with the A-frame to axle ball joint. Are you sure you are talking about the right item being faulty? Go back to Landyman's pics. If its the balljoint at the top of the pic that's faulty you are still going to need to deal with it. Its the self-levelling device that can be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 The self levelling device - boge strut - does not come with the A-frame to axle ball joint. Are you sure you are talking about the right item being faulty? Go back to Landyman's pics. If its the balljoint at the top of the pic that's faulty you are still going to need to deal with it. Its the self-levelling device that can be removed. hi,yep its the a frame ball joint thats at fault,you can put a screwdriver under it and lift it up n down and it makes the same metalic knock that i hear when going over bumps in the road.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 That's what I thought. That needs to be there so you'll need to renew it. The self-levelling device though can be removed if you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 hi again,ok my new ball joint should be here next 2 days or so,paid 10 pound for a brand new one,ok im gonna try an remove the old one and refit the new one myself,i have a compressor and an air chisle/puncher too,,was thinking if i took the carrier off then used the air puncher i could get the old one out,instead of using hammers e.t.c,and lots of swearing like as been said,,ahha,so refiting the new joint will have to be greased and lined up with the 2 bolt holes yes?..then i was thinking of using the air punch the push it back in..sound good to you guys??..thanks...wayne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 The air chisel/puncher won't touch it, in terms of getting the old one out, I've tried. It'll also make a huge mess of the new one, and certainly won't push it in. I drilled the old one out, and made a tool to pull the new one in, using 4x M12 bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Please re-read my post about taking it to a garage with a press. I wasn't joking. No way I would even bother trying to do another one myself. Bashing it out may work. Bashing the new one in will probably break it. The bolt holes must line up perfectly throughout the install, it must go in dead square and seat fully home. Bashing the lugs usually bends them. Check other forums if you think we are being over dramatic. And if you can't get both the bolts in it's an MOT fail so you get to do it all over again. See http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=47529 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheltie50 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I took the yoke over to our friendly hydraulic press and had it done in minuites, it's incredably well stuck in there and not much will move it or replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uksniper1 Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 ok thanks for the replies ..looks like ill be looking for a press thats close then,as the rangie is also my daily drive and im in scotland.might be a case a taking it off and getting the bus. ..cheers again all..wayne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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