Just did Upper and lower Ball Joints and both inner and outer tie rod ends. Parts from Rockauto, so cheap ones. Guess I'll see how it goes. The upper BJ's were a *****, especially since I had one day to do it and couldn't find a ball joint remover tool set at any parts store to borrow.
Made my own out of a 2" galv. coupler, 2" x 1-1/2" Reducer coupling, 1" piece of bar stock, 7/8" Deep Well socket and with a little help from a C-clamp.
When trying to push the upper BJ out, I didn't notice that although the ball joint top fit nicely into the coupler mouth, it was hitting the threads as it tried to move up into the coupler (i.e. get the right tools).
The way you guys sound I might buy a tool set for the next time. I did get them done and lessons learned from Driver's side helped me on the passenger side. Like remove the C-clip under upper BJ so it will actually move, yeah I did that.
I took on this due to shaky steering wheel when braking, and it did partially help the issue all though it did not go away. Found that the cheap axle nut I got last time, (and unfortunately bought the same part from RA) had gotten loose on the passenger axle although it is a "staked" nut.
I think the issue was that the axle nut end was so thin that when I staked the nut it actually cut the nut end rather than bending it.
Ordering some legit axle nuts for next time, and a bigger better torque wrench as mine only got up to 200 Nm. (230Nm req'd on axle nuts)
I assume the nut let loose the hub and probably warped the also cheap hubs bought off RA. I don't mean to bag on Rock Auto as I usually have great success with their parts, although this was my first foray into suspension parts with them and on a 15 yo land rover.
Now how to tell the wife I need to buy the same parts again? So plan is to tell her something else is aligning my land rover. This would not be a far fetched statement, and she doesn't know much about cars so I think it will pass the smell test.
If you plan the upper BJ's make sure you have a torch (heat) ready to apply, and place the new BJ's in the freezer for a couple days to "shrink" the diameter of the new ones, it didn't help much but in my mind it was the key to my success.
OSMWR: (Oh Sheet moment when doing the repair) When upper ball joint was half way pushed up and would not move for two hours, also due to not having the right tool set
Difficulty BJ's without proper tools (upper: 9.9 out of 10, lowers 7.5 out of 10), tie rods: 2 out of 10.
Worst part on the Tie rods was getting the dust covers off the old TR for the new TR.
Tip #2, check that YOU do not bend your brake disc dust cover on the hub, by rotating the hub after you put it back together. Ran 500 miles with mine scrapping the hub, now I have custom see thru the bottom brake dust cover on the Drivers.
Now to go see the alignment guys, were I get to educate them on Land Rover Air Suspensions.
Next Up new control arm bushings...do I dare?