Hey all,
Indy mechanic recommended I replace ball joints on the front two corners to get rid of some of the knocking I hear going on in my suspension.
I've read that not all ball joint removal kits work well given the angle of our struts? Has anyone tried either of these two kits on our cars?
I was quoted $2,300 for the whole job and would rather take a weekend to do it myself.

MR CARTOOL Upper Lower Knuckle Ball Joint Tool Kit For Land Rover Discovery 2 Range Rover P38 Car Ball Joint Removal Tool

MADDOX Ball Joint Service Kit for 2WD and 4WD Vehicles

 

I used the Maddox type to do mine work fine

 

You don't need to buy ball joint tools. All the major parts chains have loan-a-tool programs. You pay the full cost of the tool (set) as a deposit with the understanding that you will be refunded in full when you return it within a specified number of days. For AutoZone it's 90 days.

I don't know anything about MR CARTOOL vs. MADDOX, but you can check out the tools at the various parts store sites to find what you want to use. Or get two or three different types!

 

Who quoted you that much - the last set I paid to have done I paid $200 plus parts. That's been a while and I live in an area where labor is lower than the national average, but you should be able to find someone to do it for well under $500.

Ball joints is one of those things I generally actually do pay someone to do. I'll rebuild transmissions, fabricate suspension, replace and modify wiring harnesses - friggin hate doing ball joints.

 

Amen brother! If/when the day comes to replace Redrover's ball joints I'll be shopping the work to a shop here. There are stories of DIYers replacing ball joints with no trouble, but there are far, far too many horror stories out there.

 

I'd do them myself, mostly because I don't trust that a shop wouldn't mess it up and charge me a fortune. I've had good luck with Maddox tool sets in general, but haven't tried their ball joint press.

Definitely go grab a rental ball joint press from a parts store. Costs you nothing once you bring it back, you won't have to be gentle with it, and it makes the job even cheaper since you won't have to buy the tool. I've rented a few tools from Advance and their rental tools are actually pretty good. You buy it at first, and as long as you bring it back within 45 days you get a full refund.